NAIROBI, Kenya- Commuters across Kenya were left stranded on Monday after public transport operators launched a nationwide strike over soaring fuel prices, paralysing movement in major towns and cities.
In Nairobi, large sections of the usually busy Thika Superhighway appeared unusually quiet as thousands of workers and students were forced to walk long distances to reach their destinations.
Bonfires burned along sections of the highway as groups of protesters gathered on roads leading into the city.
The strike, led by matatu operators and transport associations, followed sharp increases in fuel prices announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Operators say the rising cost of diesel and petrol has made business unsustainable and pushed many transport owners to the brink.
In Nairobi, commuters queued for hours at bus stops while others trekked to the central business district from estates such as Kasarani, Roysambu and Githurai after matatus failed to report to work.
The disruption spread beyond the capital. In Kitengela, transport operations were severely affected, leaving passengers stranded at stages as drivers joined demonstrations against fuel costs.
Similar scenes were reported in Nakuru and Eldoret, where commuters walked to work and businesses opened late due to transport shortages.
Operators accused the government of ignoring repeated warnings from the sector.
“On Monday, there will be strictly no movement of any vehicles,” Matatu Owners Association chairman Albert Karakacha said while announcing the strike. He warned that roads would remain blocked until the government addressed their concerns over fuel prices.
Transport associations also ordered an immediate 50% increase in fares, arguing that operators could no longer absorb the rising operational costs.
The latest EPRA review pushed the cost of diesel sharply upwards, with pump prices in Nairobi climbing above Sh240 per litre.
Petrol prices also increased significantly. The government blamed global oil market instability and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East for the rise.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said the government had used billions of shillings from the Petroleum Development Levy to cushion consumers from even higher prices. But transport operators argued the intervention had failed to protect ordinary Kenyans.
Some protesters called for lower fuel taxes, while others demanded greater transparency in how fuel prices are calculated.
A court petition has already been filed challenging the latest fuel price adjustments and seeking disclosure of the pricing formula used by the authorities.
The strike has heightened fears of wider economic disruption in a country where millions rely on matatus for daily movement.
Public transport plays a central role in Kenya’s urban economy, linking workers, traders and students to cities and towns every day.
