Kenyan transport operators suspended a nationwide strike on Tuesday after two days of widespread violence that brought Nairobi and other major cities to a standstill, leaving at least four people dead, more than 30 injured and more than 700 arrested, according to official figures. The suspension, announced by the Federation of Public Transport Sector, will hold until next Tuesday to allow negotiations with the government to continue.
The protests erupted after the government announced a record increase in fuel prices driven largely by disruptions to Gulf oil supplies following the US-Israel war with Iran that began in late February. Although a ceasefire has since been declared, the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes — remains effectively blocked, keeping pump prices elevated across Kenya and much of East Africa.
A Deal, But Not a Resolution
Edwin Mukabane, national chairman of the Federation of Public Transport Sector, said the agreement to suspend the strike was reached “not because we are satisfied, but because we want to give negotiations a chance.” He warned that the strike would resume within seven days if talks did not produce meaningful results. “If this is not taken seriously within the seven days, the strike will be back on,” he said.
On Monday, groups representing matatu operators and other transport workers held a marathon meeting with government officials. Energy Minister Opiyo Wandayi announced a reduction in the diesel price — which had risen to a high of 242 Kenyan shillings (about .85; £1.40) per litre — cutting it by 10 shillings. The price of petrol was kept at 214 shillings. The operators had been demanding cuts of up to 46 shillings to bring prices back to levels before the Iran conflict disrupted regional fuel markets.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that “negotiations at a higher level” would be conducted over the coming week, with the government under pressure to find a solution before the suspension expires.
Violence on the Streets
Monday’s demonstrations were marked by widespread looting, road blockages and confrontations with police across Nairobi, Mombasa and other cities. In the capital, major thoroughfares were deserted as matatu crews parked their vehicles and joined protests, leaving hundreds of thousands of Kenyans unable to commute to work. Schools were closed in several counties and businesses shuttered early.
Videos circulating on social media showed police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds, while some demonstrators set tyres alight and blocked highways with stones. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said a number of suspects had already been arraigned in court, with cases moving through the system with unusual speed.
Kenyan rights groups were swift to condemn the government’s response. The state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights called for immediate investigations into police conduct, urging law enforcement to “exercise restraint.” Vocal Africa, another rights organisation, said the use of lethal force by police was “unjustifiable and unacceptable.” At least four people were killed during the demonstrations, with the Interior Ministry confirming the figure while declining to provide further details on how the deaths occurred.
The Fuel Price Trap
Kenya imports virtually all its petroleum products and is unusually exposed to price shocks originating in the Middle East Gulf. Even before the recent Iran-related disruptions, the country was struggling with a currency that has weakened against the dollar, making imports more expensive. The government cut the VAT rate on fuel from 16 percent to 8 percent in April — a temporary measure running until July — but critics say this has done little to address the structural problem.
Economists note that Kenya’s fuel pricing formula automatically passes through international price movements, leaving the government with limited tools to shield consumers from volatility. The matatu industry — which employs hundreds of thousands of people directly and supports millions more in related sectors — was among the hardest hit, with operators saying the cost of diesel had made some routes economically unviable.
The government now faces the unenviable task of managing public anger over living costs while maintaining fiscal discipline under an IMF programme that limits subsidies. President William Ruto, who came to power on a promise to lower the cost of living, is under mounting pressure from opposition politicians and civil society groups to take more decisive action. With negotiations due to resume before the suspension expires, both sides know the stakes are high: another round of violence would be deeply damaging for a country still recovering from the political upheavals of the past two years.