Runda was on Sunday a scene of running battles between citizens and police after Karura MCA Kamau Thuo led protests against the construction of a new petrol station in the area.
Together with leaders of Runda Gardens Residents Association, Thuo led the residents to block the Eastern bypass around Two Rivers Mall all morning.
Among those protesting were youths from nearby Githogoro slum area who engaged police officers in endless running battles where they carried stones, lit bonfires as well as commandeering vehicles off the road.
"Runda is an area with controlled development. We do not want the petrol station set up here because that is violating the law. We want the construction of the petrol station stopped," said Thuo.
He argued that the county government had not approved the change of usage from Residential to the new Petrol Service Station status but lamented how the decision had ultimately changed.
"In the reference letters you send to us in February 2016, you had indicated that the change of user granted 15/12/2015 had been cancelled and that you have not received any further development proposals in respect of the above plot," read part of a letter by the Runda Gardens Residents Association addressing the Director of Urban planning for Nairobi county.
"We object to the irregularly granted approval which has been done despite our written objections to your office and without following due process as required under the provisions of the physical planning act cap 286 and the Environment Management Coordination Act cap 387 of the laws of Kenya," said the association's chairman Daniel Ngobia.