Protests broke out in several Kenyan towns on Monday following a sharp increase in fuel prices, triggering a nationwide transport strike that left thousands of commuters stranded and forced many residents to walk to work.
The action followed a directive by the Transport Sector Alliance, which ordered vehicles belonging to member associations to halt operations from midnight in protest against the latest fuel price adjustment.
The alliance warned of industrial action after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority increased retail fuel prices by as much as 23.5 per cent, following a previous 24.2 per cent hike in April.
Authorities said police had been deployed to manage disruptions, as tensions rose in major cities including Nairobi and Mombasa.
By Monday morning, major roads leading into Nairobi, the capital, were blocked by striking transport operators and groups of protesters.
Security operatives responded with tear gas in some areas, while demonstrators set tyres ablaze on key roads, worsening traffic congestion and disrupting movement across the city.
In Mombasa, a major port city, the strike sparked concerns over possible delays in supply chains and cargo movement.
Kenya’s Finance Minister, John Mbadi, said discussions were planned with transport operators in a bid to resolve the crisis, noting that the government had already introduced subsidies to cushion consumers.
“We hope to meet public transport operators later today to discuss a solution. The current prices are already subsidised,” he said.
Kenya relies heavily on fuel imports from the Middle East, largely through government-to-government arrangements with Gulf suppliers.
The latest price hike has significantly increased transport fares and raised the cost of basic commodities, deepening economic pressure on households already struggling with high living costs.
A public relations worker, Gabriel Odhiambo, 24, said the situation had sharply affected his daily expenses.
“My transport costs have doubled and food prices have also risen,” he said, adding that basic food items had become increasingly unaffordable.
He noted that the price of tomatoes had surged dramatically, with four pieces now costing about 60 shillings, compared to significantly lower prices previously.
According to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the pump price of super petrol in Nairobi was raised to 214.25 Kenyan shillings ($1.66) per litre from 206.97, while diesel increased to 242.92 shillings from 196.63. Kerosene remained unchanged at 152.78 shillings for the May 15 to June 14 pricing cycle.
The protests and strike action highlighted growing public frustration over rising living costs and inflationary pressures affecting essential goods and services across Kenya.
