Thousands of Nairobi commuters were left stranded on Monday morning after matatu operators launched a major transport shutdown in protest against soaring fuel prices, paralysing movement across large parts of the capital.
Bus termini and roadside stages filled with frustrated passengers from as early as 5am as workers, students and traders scrambled for limited transport options before the strike took full effect.
However, by dawn, most matatus had disappeared from the roads, triggering severe disruptions and leaving thousands stranded in what quickly turned into a citywide transport crisis.
At Mutindwa stage along Outer Ring Road, hundreds of commuters waited for hours in vain as transport services ground to a halt.
“I have been here from 4am. I thought I would get a matatu if I was at the stage early enough but too bad,” said Solomon Kamau, one of the affected passengers.
The shutdown created an opportunity for private motorists and boda boda operators, many of whom sharply increased fares as desperate commuters searched for alternative means of transport.
Some private drivers were reportedly charging up to Sh250 for trips to Nairobi’s Central Business District, while boda boda fares also surged significantly due to overwhelming demand.
Despite the inflated charges, transport remained scarce, forcing many commuters to walk long distances to work and school.
The disruption followed a joint announcement issued on Sunday, May 17, by the Transport Sector Alliance, which declared a nationwide suspension of operations over the latest fuel price increase announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
The Truckers Association of Kenya also backed the protest, threatening a nationwide strike unless the government intervenes to lower fuel prices.
Truckers Association General Secretary Dennis Kilia warned that transporters were prepared to completely halt operations if no action was taken.
“We are not happy with the fuel increment,” Kilia said.
“In short, we are telling the government if they will not reduce the prices by Monday, we will tell our members to down their tools completely,” he added.
Matatu Owners Association chairman Albert Karakacha insisted operators could no longer absorb the rising operational costs caused by the latest fuel review.
“On Monday, there will be strictly no movement of any vehicles; all the roads will be blocked until the government listens to our cry because we have been promised, but everything we are promised has not come to fulfilment,” Karakacha said.
Transport operators accused the government of ignoring repeated warnings from the sector over the escalating cost of doing business, arguing that the latest fuel hike had pushed many operators to the brink of collapse.
The protests erupted after EPRA announced a sharp increase in retail fuel prices in its latest pricing cycle.
Under the new review, diesel prices rose by Sh46.29 per litre while super petrol increased by Sh16.65 per litre.
In Nairobi, petrol is now retailing at Sh214.25 per litre while diesel has climbed to Sh242.92 per litre — prices transport stakeholders describe as unsustainable and likely to worsen the cost-of-living crisis facing ordinary Kenyans.
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