Normal transport operation came to a near standstill in some areas in Kisumu town on Saturday morning, following a bitter clash between matatu and motorcycle (boda boda) operators.
Trouble started on Friday evening after a section of boda boda operators torched a Nissan matatu that had hit a motorcyclist.
The accident happened close to Simba Club, along the busy Kisumu-Kakamega Road.
“The motorcyclist got minor injuries. After the accident, the matatu driver was willing to negotiate with the victim but his colleagues could here none of it. They decided to torch the matatu. That is when the driver decided to flee,” said a driver only identified as Lenny.
On Saturday morning, matatu drivers and touts decided to retaliate. They burnt seven motorbikes.
For the better part of the day, transport to and from various Kisumu estates such as Kondele, Kibos, Nyawita, Mamboleo, Manyatta and Car Wash was completely paralyzed.
Commuters could be seen walking to and from town as the boda boda and matatu operators engaged in a bitter clash.
Anti-riot police officers were forced to intervene to save the situation.
A section of residents accused boda boda operators for promptly ‘taking the law’ into their hands whenever one of them is involved in an accident.