Burning Barricades And Thick Smoke Block Thika Road During Fuel Price Protests

Chaotic scenes unfolded on Thika Road in the Kihunguro (Ruiru bypass area) on May 18, 2026, during the ongoing #RejectFuelPrices protests as burning barricades and thick smoke filled the highway.

The shaky handheld video, filmed by X user Chief🗾, shows dense black smoke rising into an overcast sky from burning tires and debris spread across the multi-lane road.

Sandbags, sacks, and scattered rubbish block sections of the highway while motorcyclists carefully weave through the obstruction. In the distance, people move along the roadside near white barriers and construction fencing as flames flicker across the pavement.

The footage captures a tense atmosphere as protesters reportedly set up burning roadblocks, leaving the highway covered in debris amid clashes with police.

According to the post accompanying the video, live bullets were being fired as part of broader nationwide demonstrations and a matatu strike linked to rising fuel prices and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.