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Kenya’s Matatu Operators have launched a nationwide matatu strike, paralysing public transport and disrupting movement in different parts of the Country, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Machakos and surrounding urban centres.
Thousands of commuters have been leftstranded at bus stages and along major highways.
The strike, which took effect on Monday, May 18, follows a coordinated shutdown by Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators protesting sharp increases in fuel prices and what they describe as unsustainable operating conditions in the transport sector. The action involves matatu operators and allied transport stakeholders who have withdrawn services across key routes, effectively grounding daily commuter transport.
In Nairobi, the country’s busiest transport hub, morning peak hours have been severely disrupted. Major roads like Thika Road, Waiyaki Way, Jogoo Road and Mombasa Road are experiencing unusually low vehicle movement, with commuters forced to walk long distances or seek alternative transport options, where available.
Similar disruptions are being reported in other regions, with bus termini across multiple towns left deserted as matatus remain off the roads. The strike has had immediate ripple effects on economic activity. Businesses have opened late or remained closed in some areas due to staff delays, while schools in parts of the country have adjusted operations because of transport uncertainty.
According to transport sector stakeholders, the strike is a coordinated industrial action involving multiple groups within the transport ecosystem, including matatu saccos, cargo operators, boda boda associations, and other mobility service providers. The coalition argues that recent fuel price hikes have significantly increased operating costs, making current fare structures unsustainable.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) recently announced an increase in fuel prices, with diesel and petrol rising sharply in the latest review, a move that has intensified tensions between operators and regulators.
Security has been heightened along major transport routes in several towns as authorities monitor the situation and work with stakeholders to restore normal operations. Police have assured the public of safety even as movement remains disrupted in affected areas.
The duration of the strike remains uncertain, leaving commuters, businesses and institutions in a state of disruption.
For now, millions of Kenyans remain grounded, as a sector that forms the backbone of urban mobility brings the country’s daily rhythm to an abrupt pause.
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