Indian Businessman Is Charging Kenyans to Use a Road in Runda

A video captured on February 27, 2026, has sparked heated debate online after claims emerged that a wealthy Indian businessman has installed a toll booth on a road in Runda, Nairobi.

According to viral social media posts, the businessman — widely described online as the owner of Village Market — allegedly set up a barrier requiring motorists to either pay a fee or display a special car sticker before accessing the road. The route reportedly connects Runda to Paradise Lost Road and is frequently used by residents and parents taking children to international schools in the area.

What Is Causing the Uproar?

The road in question is considered strategic because it links key residential zones and learning institutions within Runda. Many Kenyans online have expressed anger, describing the move as an attempt to privatize what they believe is a public road.

Critics argue that charging motorists to use the road amounts to illegal toll collection and oversteps the authority of private individuals. The issue quickly gained traction across social media platforms, with users demanding government intervention.

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Is the Road Public or Private?

At the center of the controversy is the question of ownership.

Some argue that if the road passes through private property, the landowner may have the right to regulate access, including charging fees. However, others insist the road is public infrastructure and therefore falls under the management of Nairobi County.

In previous cases within Runda, the Nairobi County Assembly has ordered the removal of similar barriers, maintaining that road management and revenue collection are functions reserved for the county government.