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Kenyan press · Organization

Association of Matatu Transport Owners

Also known as: AMTO

Appears in coverage of matatu transport strikes and fuel price negotiations between operators and Kenya's government.

2026-05-182026-05-21

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. May 2026
Politics

Transport paralysis enters second day amid fuel price protest

The News

A nationwide public transport shutdown triggered by soaring fuel prices continued into a second day, forcing thousands of commuters to walk long distances across Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Mombasa after matatu operators kept vehicles off the roads. Talks between the government and public service vehicle operators ended without agreement despite the Energy Cabinet Secretary suggesting progress had been made.

Why it matters

Transport paralysis and fuel price protests remain the dominant domestic story affecting Kenyans' daily lives and economy.

19 May 2026 · Capital News

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Transport paralysis enters second day amid fuel price protest

    A nationwide public transport shutdown triggered by soaring fuel prices continued into a second day, forcing thousands of commuters to walk long distances across Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Mombasa after matatu operators kept vehicles off the roads. Talks between the government and public service vehicle operators ended without agreement despite the Energy Cabinet Secretary suggesting progress had been made.

    19 May 2026 · Capital News

  2. KAM warns fuel prices, matatu strike threaten productivity

    The Kenya Association of Manufacturers has warned that surging fuel prices and an ongoing matatu strike are disrupting supply chains and raising production costs, threatening industrial productivity and economic stability. Fuel prices reached record highs of Sh214.25 for super petrol, Sh242.92 for diesel, and Sh152.78 for kerosene following an EPRA adjustment on May 14.

    19 May 2026 · Capital News

  3. LSK demands forensic audit of G-to-G fuel procurement deal

    The Law Society of Kenya has called for an immediate forensic audit of the Government-to-Government fuel procurement framework, citing concerns over transparency and accountability in the energy sector amid rising fuel and electricity costs affecting households and businesses.

    19 May 2026 · Capital News

  4. Matatu strike enters day two over fuel prices

    Matatu operators maintained a nationwide suspension of services on Tuesday, the second consecutive day, over soaring fuel prices and insufficient government intervention. Transport stakeholders rejected the government's proposal to reduce diesel prices by Sh10, demanding more substantial measures before calling off the strike.

    19 May 2026 · Capital News

  5. Kenya transport strike paralyzes nationwide commute over fuel prices

    Kenya's major public transport operators, including Super Metro, Metro Trans, and Forward Travellers SACCO, suspended services on their second consecutive day of nationwide strike to protest rising fuel costs. The coordinated shutdown, backed by the Transport Sector Alliance, disrupted movement in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Kisii, Nakuru, Eldoret, and key transport corridors after negotiations with government Cabinet Secretaries failed to reach agreement.

    19 May 2026 · Capital News

  6. Nairobi CBD paralysed as matatu strike extends second day

    Nairobi's Central Business District remained largely shut down on Tuesday as nationwide matatu and motorists' protests over fuel price increases kept transport and business activities at a standstill, with most shops closed and commuters stranded.

    19 May 2026 · The Standard

  7. Matatu operators suspend nationwide strike for one week

    Matatu operators have suspended a nationwide strike for one week following negotiations with the government to allow high-level talks to continue between now and May 26. Transport stakeholders have urged operators to resume operations during the talks to avoid further disruption to commuters.

    19 May 2026 · The Standard

  8. Sakaja urges loan relief as matatu strike suspended for talks

    Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has called on financial institutions to grant temporary loan amnesty and flexibility to matatu operators following a two-day nationwide strike that disrupted transport services. Transport stakeholders have suspended the strike for one week to allow high-level government negotiations, with operations to resume during the negotiation period.

    19 May 2026 · The Standard

Monday 18 May

  1. Matatu operators publicly reject fuel price deal live on camera

    Matatu operators rejected an announcement by Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi about a breakthrough in fuel price talks, contradicting him on camera at Transcom House in Nairobi. Operators said the government had only agreed to a 10 shilling reduction in diesel prices, far below their demand of between 30 and 46 shillings per litre.

    18 May 2026 · Capital News

  2. Matatu strike over fuel prices continues; talks fail

    A meeting between government cabinet secretaries and matatu operators failed to resolve a nationwide strike over fuel prices on Monday night. Matatu stakeholders rejected a government proposal to lower diesel prices by Sh10, and the strike was set to continue on Tuesday.

    18 May 2026 · Capital News

  3. Matatu strike continues after government fuel talks stall

    Negotiations between the government and matatu sector stakeholders over fuel pricing failed to reach agreement on Monday night, with the strike continuing on Tuesday. Stakeholders said there was consensus on addressing fuel adulteration through price adjustments to diesel and kerosene, but no final deal was agreed.

    18 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

  4. Kalonzo defends fuel strike as legitimate government response

    Wiper leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka has defended the Transport Sector Alliance-led fuel strike, describing it as a legitimate response to the government's fuel price hike. He blamed the nationwide transport paralysis on EPRA's May 14 announcement raising diesel prices by Sh46.29 per litre and super petrol by Sh16.65 per litre, arguing the increases were made without adequate public consultation and worsened Kenya's cost-of-living crisis.

    18 May 2026 · Capital News

  5. Burning tyres block Thika Road, disrupt Nairobi transport

    Protesters lit tyres along Thika Road on Monday morning, forcing motorists to make U-turns and disrupting movement around the Githurai area. The disruption, part of a nationwide transport strike over fuel prices, brought one of Nairobi's busiest transport corridors to a near standstill and left thousands of commuters stranded.

    18 May 2026 · Capital News

Association of Matatu Transport Owners — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute