Nairobi — Kenya’s deepening transport crisis is set to reach a critical moment on Monday evening, as matatu operators prepare to announce their next move following urgent talks with the government.
Albert Karakacha, President of the Matatu Owners Association, said a “definitive directive” on the nationwide strike would be issued at 5pm, hours after a high-level meeting convened by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.
The meeting, scheduled for 4pm, brings together officials from the National Treasury, the ministries of transport and energy, and representatives of the matatu sector. It is the government’s most direct attempt yet to ease tensions sparked by a sharp rise in fuel prices.
Across the country, the impact of the strike has been immediate and severe. Public transport has largely ground to a halt. In Nairobi and other major towns, commuters have been left stranded, with many forced to walk long distances or pay steep fares for alternative transport.
The protest has drawn in a wide cross-section of operators. Matatus, cargo transporters, ride-hailing drivers and boda boda riders have all stayed off the roads, citing the rising cost of fuel and the broader strain on household incomes.
In a statement, the Matatu Owners Association described the shutdown as “peaceful” and widely observed. It said operators had voluntarily withdrawn services in what it called a “comprehensive national action”.
Yet the disruption has not been without tension. In parts of Nairobi and its outskirts, small groups of protesters erected barricades, lit bonfires and blocked roads with stones and burning tyres.
Mr Karakacha urged restraint. “We ask all stakeholders to remain calm and act within the law,” he said. “Avoid provocation and maintain discipline at all times.”
He added that the association would not tolerate violence or destruction of property, and urged the public to report any unlawful behaviour to the authorities. Emergency vehicles, he said, must be allowed to pass without obstruction.
The association also warned against misinformation, saying official updates on the strike would only come through its communication channels.
For now, attention is fixed on the outcome of the afternoon talks. For thousands of commuters and businesses affected by the shutdown, the hope is that the meeting will offer a path out of a crisis that has exposed the fragile balance between rising costs and everyday life.
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