… Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the strike was uncalled for, saying the government had already absorbed fuel cost pressures.The Transport Sector Alliance (TSA) later called off the strike and agreed to resume operations on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, pending further negotia …
Matatu strike to continue as govt, operators fail to agree on fuel price cutsKenya Minute.
Thursday, 21 May 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 21 May 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization
Transport Sector Alliance
Transport sector coalition that announced and coordinated a nationwide strike in May 2026 over fuel price increases.
In coverage
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
- May 2026
… The Transport Sector Alliance on Sunday, May 17, confirmed the strike following a high-level consultative meeting, describing the action as one of the largest coordinated industrial protests in Kenya’s history.“No vehicle shall move starting midnight today,” the alliance said in …
Transport sector calls nationwide fuel shutdown from midnight
Politics
Transport services resume after fuel price strike suspension
The News
Public transport services resumed across Kenya following suspension of a nationwide fuel price strike, with a seven-day negotiation window brokered between the government and transport stakeholders. After two days of disruption, PSV operators returned to roads in Nairobi, Machakos, Busia, Kajiado, Kisii, Meru and Nyandarua counties.
19 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Tuesday 19 May
Transport services resume after fuel price strike suspension
Public transport services resumed across Kenya following suspension of a nationwide fuel price strike, with a seven-day negotiation window brokered between the government and transport stakeholders. After two days of disruption, PSV operators returned to roads in Nairobi, Machakos, Busia, Kajiado, Kisii, Meru and Nyandarua counties.
19 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Government suspends fuel strike for week amid matatu crisis
Following negotiations, the government and transport sector stakeholders have agreed to suspend the nationwide fuel strike for one week to ease tensions over diesel prices. Governor Sakaja appealed to financial institutions to grant temporary amnesty and flexibility to public transport operators struggling under mounting economic pressure.
19 May 2026 · Capital News →
Government, transport sector suspend fuel strike until May 26
The government and transport sector stakeholders have suspended a nationwide fuel strike for one week following negotiations over diesel prices. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the suspension allows further talks on fuel pricing and public transport concerns, noting the government has reduced VAT on petroleum products by eight percent and cut diesel prices by Sh10 per litre.
19 May 2026 · Capital News →
Matatu owners reject Ksh.10 diesel cut, fuel strike continues
A meeting between Energy and Transport Cabinet Secretaries and transport sector stakeholders ended without agreement after matatu owners rejected a government proposal to lower diesel prices by Ksh.10, demanding a substantial reduction instead. The Transport Sector Alliance announced the industrial action that disrupted transport services would continue.
19 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
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 →
Nairobi Central OCS arrested over unlawful suspect release
Nairobi Central Police Station OCS Dishen Angoya has been arrested and charged with abuse of office after allegedly releasing 64 suspects arrested for public order offences without lawful authority on May 18, 2026. He was arrested by the Deputy Regional Police Commander and is being held at Lang'ata Police Station pending arraignment.
19 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
KNCHR calls for probe into fuel protest deaths, warns on police force
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has called for an urgent investigation into violence during Monday's fuel price protests that killed four civilians and injured many, while cautioning police against excessive force against protesters.
19 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
PSV operators strike over fuel prices, disrupting transport nationwide
A nationwide public service vehicle strike called by the Transport Sector Alliance entered its second day on Tuesday, with matatus, boda boda operators and other transport players scaling down or suspending services in protest of EPRA's fuel price increases. Super petrol and diesel prices rose by Ksh.16.65 and Ksh.46.29 per litre respectively, with operators citing the combined burden of price changes, taxes and levies as unsustainable.
19 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
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 →
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 →
Monday 18 May
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 →
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 →
Sifuna criticizes government's delayed response to fuel price hikes
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna questioned the government's approach to managing fuel price shocks, arguing that fuel pricing is a predictable event and the government should prepare interventions early rather than damage control after crises escalate. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi attributed recent hikes to ongoing conflict in the Gulf region but said the State would consider relief measures.
18 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Heavy security deployed after violent PSV fuel protests
Security forces were deployed across Kiambu County and Thika Road after a nationwide PSV strike over soaring fuel prices escalated into vandalism, road barricades, and vehicle destruction, with protesters lighting tyres and blocking sections of the highway during morning rush hour.
18 May 2026 · Capital News →
Kalonzo calls for energy CS resignation over fuel price increase
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has demanded the resignation of Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi over a May 14 fuel price hike that increased diesel by Ksh 46.29 per litre and super petrol by Ksh 16.65 per litre, blaming President Ruto's administration for poor governance and insensitive economic policies that triggered a nationwide transport crisis.
18 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Maraga proposes VAT exemption and levy removal to lower fuel prices
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has urged Parliament to convene immediately and approve three measures to cushion Kenyans from rising fuel costs: exempting fuel products from VAT, temporarily removing fuel levies, and redirecting resources lost through "budgeted corruption." His call comes as a nationwide transport sector strike over fuel prices forced Kenyans to walk to work and school.
18 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Nationwide PSV strike disrupts Kenya transport over fuel costs
A coordinated nationwide public service vehicle strike backed by major matatu operators protested soaring fuel prices, paralyzing movement across Kenya's major towns and highways, forcing commuters to walk long distances or pay sharply inflated fares for alternative transport.
18 May 2026 · Capital News →
Thika Road clashes escalate as fuel protest turns violent
A private vehicle was set ablaze and others vandalised on Thika Road during fuel protest clashes between protesters and police on Monday morning. The unrest involved burning tyres and barricades that disrupted one of Nairobi's busiest highways and forced commuters, matatus, and boda bodas to turn back during morning rush hour.
18 May 2026 · Capital News →
Fuel prices unchanged until June 14 review cycle
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi says fuel prices will remain at current elevated levels until the next review on June 14, 2026, citing disrupted supply channels from the US-Iran Gulf war. The government plans to intervene for June using the Ksh.5 billion Petroleum Development Levy Fund and other measures including possible VAT adjustments.
18 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Boda boda riders abandon apps during matatu fuel-price strike
Ride-hailing boda boda operators abandoned digital apps and reverted to roadside pick-ups on Monday as demand for two-wheel transport surged following a nationwide matatu strike triggered by soaring fuel prices. The Transport Sector Alliance strike included matatu operators, truckers, boda boda associations, digital taxi operators and logistics firms.
18 May 2026 · Capital News →
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 →
Transport sector strikes over high fuel prices nationwide
Kenya's transport sector, including passenger transport, cargo and logistics, ride-hailing services, motorcycle transport, tourism transport, driving schools, school buses and private motorists, launched a nationwide strike from midnight to protest unaffordable fuel prices and harsh economic conditions, forcing many Kenyans to trek to work and schools.
18 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
PSV operators nationwide suspend services over soaring fuel prices
Major public transport operators across Kenya suspended services on Monday in a coordinated nationwide protest against soaring fuel prices, with leading firms including Super Metro, Metro Trans, Forward Travellers SACCO, Latema Travellers and Countrylink withdrawing their fleets in solidarity with the Transport Sector Alliance strike. The shutdown is expected to heavily affect movement in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and along key highways including the Northern Corridor and Nairobi–Mombasa Highway.
18 May 2026 · Capital News →
NPS assures security as nationwide PSV strike begins over fuel
The National Police Service has assured Kenyans of enhanced security measures as a planned nationwide public transport strike kicked off Monday, with major PSV operators withdrawing fleets in protest over soaring fuel prices. The NPS said it would deal firmly with any acts of violence, intimidation or disruption, while some stakeholders like the United Transport Association of Kenya distanced themselves from the strike and affirmed continued operations.
18 May 2026 · Capital News →
Schools shut, transport halted in Kenya fuel price protest strike
Multiple schools suspended classes on Monday as a nationwide transport strike and protests over high fuel prices commenced, with the Transport Sector Alliance announcing that all vehicle types—from buses to ride-hailing services—would not move from midnight to protest unaffordable fuel prices and harsh economic conditions.
18 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
PSV strike over fuel prices paralyses transport nationwide
Public Service Vehicle operators staged a nationwide strike on Monday to protest rising fuel prices, halting transport operations across major cities including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru and leaving thousands of commuters stranded. The Transport Sector Alliance announced the suspension would continue until the government addresses concerns about soaring fuel costs.
18 May 2026 · The Standard →
Transport strike over fuel prices forces school closures nationwide
A nationwide transport strike by matatus, school buses, and ride-hailing services over fuel price hikes announced by EPRA disrupted school operations across major towns, forcing several private schools to suspend classes due to safety concerns and uncertainty in transport operations.
18 May 2026 · The Standard →
Nationwide matatu strike leaves Kenyans scrambling for transport
Hundreds of Kenyans improvised difficult and dangerous ways to reach work on Monday after a nationwide matatu strike halted public transport, with commuters walking for hours, using overcrowded trains, paying inflated boda boda fares, or riding on trucks amid a crisis driven by rising fuel prices.
18 May 2026 · The Standard →
Kalonzo calls for fuel price cut, Wandayi resignation
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called on Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi to reverse the recent fuel price hike and resign, amid a nationwide transport strike. Kalonzo backed the strike as a legitimate response to government policies and urged President Ruto to engage the Transport Sector Alliance in dialogue.
18 May 2026 · The Standard →
Four killed, 348 arrested during fuel price protests
At least four Kenyans died and 30 were injured during fuel price protests on Monday, according to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of fuelling violence through political rhetoric. Demonstrations over record fuel prices turned violent across several counties, with protesters blocking roads, lighting bonfires, and clashing with police.
18 May 2026 · The Standard →