By Anchor Writers | April 21, 2026
A wave of unrest swept through Machakos Town today, grinding commerce to a halt as protests over escalating fuel prices degenerated into violent confrontations between youths and police.
What began as scattered demonstrations quickly snowballed into full-scale disruption, with groups of protesters seizing control of key streets in the town centre.
Family Bank suffered broken windows as rioters stoned the premises.
Makeshift barricades brought traffic to a standstill, choking movement in and out of the central business district.
Anti-riot police moved in to reclaim control, firing volleys of tear gas as they pushed back the crowds.
Thick plumes of smoke and tear gas hung over the streets as residents and traders scrambled for vision and safety, some fleeing through back alleys to escape the truncheons wielding police.
The economic heartbeat of the town fell silent within hours. Shops slammed their doors, banks cut short operations, and public transport thinned out dramatically.
By late afternoon, the CBD bore the eerie stillness of a shutdown—empty streets, shuttered storefronts, and abandoned stalls.
Amid the turmoil, sections of protesters turned their attention to motorists, particularly cargo trucks- seeking to levy illegal tolls. Several vehicles were halted, with reports of attempts to loot goods, triggering alarm among drivers navigating the volatile routes.
There were also claims—yet to be independently verified—that some individuals demanded payments from motorists in exchange for safe passage, raising concerns over opportunistic criminality within the protests.
Operations across both government offices and private enterprises were severely affected, with workers leaving prematurely as fears over personal safety mounted.
Despite the intensity of the clashes, there were no immediate reports of fatalities or arrests by the time of going to press.The upheaval underscores mounting public anger over the rising cost of fuel, a pressure point that continues to strain household incomes and ignite unrest across urban centres.
Machakos Shuts Down as Fuel Price Protests Spiral Into Street Chaos
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