NAIROBI, Kenya- One person has been confirmed dead while tens of others were injured across the country as violent protests linked to soaring fuel prices and the nationwide matatu strike rocked several towns on Monday.
The fatality was reported in Nakuru where chaos erupted after protesters barricaded roads and engaged police in running battles over the rising cost of fuel and transport. Anti-riot officers fired tear gas to disperse crowds that had paralysed movement along sections of the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.
In Nairobi, Kiambu, Rongai, Kitengela and other towns, dozens of protesters sustained injuries during confrontations with police as demonstrators lit bonfires, blocked roads and forced businesses to shut down.
Sections of Thika Road, Kangemi, Roysambu and parts of the CBD experienced major disruption as commuters remained stranded following the transport paralysis.
The protests followed a nationwide matatu strike triggered by record fuel prices announced in the latest review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Diesel prices rose sharply while petrol also recorded significant increases, sparking outrage among transport operators and ordinary Kenyans already struggling with the high cost of living.
Across Nairobi, the city centre turned into a ghost town as matatus disappeared from the roads and many businesses either delayed opening or shut down entirely.
Schools in several areas switched to online learning over safety concerns caused by the protests and transport crisis.
The government has blamed the crisis on global oil market disruptions linked to the Iran conflict, with Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi saying fuel prices will remain unchanged until the next EPRA review.
Human rights groups and opposition leaders have condemned the violence and called for restraint from security agencies, warning that the worsening economic situation could trigger further unrest if urgent intervention is not undertaken.
