NAIROBI, Kenya- The nationwide matatu strike entered its second day on Tuesday after talks between transport operators and the government failed to produce an agreement on soaring fuel prices, prolonging a transport crisis that has paralysed movement across major towns and cities.
Transport sector players accused the government of failing to offer immediate solutions during consultations held Monday evening, insisting they would not resume operations until fuel prices are reduced.
“We have agreed on the part of adulteration that the price of diesel and kerosene be at par. On the issue of the diesel prices, that one we have not agreed and we have scheduled another meeting. In the meantime, it is our request that all our drivers and owners of vehicles continue keeping their vehicles at home. No disruption, no rioting as we await better engagements which will save the economy,” Association of Matatu Transport Owners chairperson Kushian Muchiri said.
The strike, which began Monday midnight, has brought public transport to a near standstill after matatu operators, truckers, boda boda associations, digital taxi operators and private motorists united under the Transport Sector Alliance to protest record fuel prices announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Thousands of commuters were again forced to walk long distances to work Tuesday morning as matatus remained parked in depots and at petrol stations across Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Mombasa and Kisumu. Sections of Thika Road, Waiyaki Way, Mombasa Road and Jogoo Road witnessed long queues of stranded passengers and streams of pedestrians heading to work.
The transport operators are demanding an immediate reversal of the latest fuel price increases, reduction of petrol and diesel prices to about Sh152 per litre and reforms at EPRA.
They have also criticised the government-to-government fuel import programme and called for the revival of local oil refining.
Muchiri faulted remarks by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi that the government would wait for President William Ruto’s return from Azerbaijan before making key decisions on the fuel crisis.
“This shows a dismissive attitude toward citizens struggling with high transport costs,” Muchiri said.
Major operators including Super Metro confirmed that their fleets would remain off the roads in solidarity with the strike.
The prolonged shutdown has already triggered huge economic losses, disruption of school programmes and increased tension in several towns where protests over the rising cost of living turned violent on Monday.
The government has maintained that the current fuel crisis is linked to disruptions in global oil supply chains caused by the ongoing Iran conflict, but pressure continues to mount on the Kenya Kwanza administration to urgently intervene and restore normalcy.
“One of these issues was the matter of possible adulteration of diesel due to the huge disparity in the prices of diesel and kerosene. We have come to the understanding that for prudence purposes and to eliminate the risk of fuel adulteration on account of this huge disparity and to save the motor vehicles operating using diesel from possible malfunction, we are going to bridge the gap between the prices of diesel and petrol,” Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi said.
“That would mean that the price of kerosene would have to go higher as that of diesel comes lower to bridge that gap.”
