A tense standoff continues at the Mataara stage in Kiambu town between the Kiambu County government and over 400 matatu operators from Mataara Sacco, after an overnight operation on Wednesday blocked the site with large garbage bins and dumped heaps of waste.
The conflict stems from the county’s search for temporary space to accommodate traders displaced from Kangangi Market amid ongoing challenges, including high levies and modernization plans. Officials have identified the Mataara stage as a potential interim location for the vendors, prompting repeated efforts to evict the Sacco’s operators, who ply routes from Kiambu town to Ruiru and Thika.
This is the second attempt to clear the area. A prior effort just weeks ago was met with vehement resistance, as operators staged demonstrations and refused to vacate. In response, county authorities reportedly mobilized lorries late Wednesday night, believed to be government-owned. They sealed all entry points using massive garbage bins and scattered foul-smelling refuse across the stage, halting all activity.
Operators arrived Thursday morning to find the site in disarray, overwhelmed by the stench and debris. “We woke up ready to report to our workplace, only to be met by these indescribable scenes of smelly garbage,” one driver said.
James Kamau, a matatu operator with Mataara Sacco, condemned the actions as “barbaric and so unfortunate.” “How can a sane person from the county government decide to do such a thing at this time?” he asked, calling on those responsible to fully own up.
The more than 400 operators allege the push is driven by plans to allocate the site to a private developer for market stall construction. They remain defiant, stating that “no amount of intimidation will make us move out of the stage without them giving a solution.” As one of the largest Saccos at Kiambu’s main stage, Mataara generates substantial revenue for the county through daily operations, they stressed.
The impasse directly affects over 3,000 people reliant on the stage, including drivers, conductors, vendors, and mechanics. “Where do they want us to get food for our families?” the operators demanded, highlighting the threat to community livelihoods.
The blockade persists as of Thursday, November 6, with no resumption of services possible. Neither the Kiambu County government nor Mataara Sacco has issued an official statement, and no dialogue has been scheduled. The incident reflects growing tensions over transport infrastructure and land use in Kiambu.
