Traders at Kitui's Kyua market are protesting, calling for removing scrap metal businesses in the area, citing increased thefts.
The traders halted traffic on the important Kitui-Machakos road by blocking the road for hours.
Last Monday, several scrap metal traders were detained, and a vehicle transporting scrap metal was confiscated.
A court, however, ordered that the vehicle be freed.
“We are tired of being robbed, only to find scrap metal dealers selling our items. We are holding protests to ensure these rogue dealers leave the town and stop abetting crime,” one trader said.
The Matuu OCS OCS Peter Mugambi and Katangi Charles Itharii attempted to reassure vendors at the Kyua market by stating that action would be taken against scrap metal dealers.
