Protesters block Thika road, want 'death trap' dam fenced

Demonstrators barricaded Thika Superhighway in Githurai, Nairobi County, on Tuesday morning in a demand for a dam near Clay Works to be fenced off.

The protesters, who included matatu operators and residents, interrupted transport using huge stones and bonfires.

"DEATH TRAP"

Citing an incident in which a 14-seater matatu fell into the dam, leaving at least eight people dead at the scene, a resident said it has turned into a "death trap".

“The dam is now a death trap. All we want is for the government to ensure a fence is erected around it or that the water is drained elsewhere,” said Ken Kamau.

Jane Kimotho said many lives have been lost at the dam in the last few months.

“All we want is for the problem to be addressed once and for all. We are tired of pulling dead bodies from that dam, almost on a weekly basis,” she said.

She wondered why authorities are quick to demolish stalls built on road reserves yet slow to fence the dam.

The crowd harassed motorists by asking them for money in order to allow them to use the road.

The demonstration resulted in tailbacks that caused matatu operators to hike fares.