Kenya's public transport sector was crippled for a second consecutive day on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, as a nationwide matatu and motorists' strike, protesting soaring fuel prices, brought business and transport activities to a near standstill. The strike, which had commenced on May 18, severely impacted major cities and towns, leaving hundreds of thousands of commuters stranded and causing significant economic disruption.

Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) experienced widespread paralysis, with major streets deserted, most shops shut, and usually bustling matatu termini eerily empty. A spot-check revealed only a handful of private vehicles and security patrols moving around. Commuters faced immense challenges, with many forced to walk long distances or pay exorbitantly hiked fares from the few private vehicles operating as makeshift public transport. A resident from Kawangware lamented paying more than double the normal fare only to find shops closed, leaving him without enough money to return home. Another resident, Protus Oundo, resorted to cycling from Utawala to the CBD before sunrise due to the absence of public transport, urging leaders to address citizens' concerns.

The impact extended beyond Nairobi, with towns like Kikuyu, Eldoret, Kakamega, Nakuru, Kitale, Kisumu, Mombasa, Bungoma, and Webuye also experiencing severe disruptions. In Bungoma County, transport activities were halted as matatu owners withdrew their vehicles, citing unsustainable operating expenses due to increased petrol and diesel prices. Few vehicles dared to operate, fearing stoning, while those that did charged up to triple the normal fares. Kevin Simiyu, a matatu driver, highlighted the suffering of ordinary Kenyans, stating that operators could not absorb the rising costs and warned of job losses without government intervention. An egg vendor in Webuye, Ayub Wafula, noted his business was severely affected, as his usual customers—matatu and boda boda operators—were off the roads.

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) had announced a Sh10 reduction in the price of diesel (to Sh232.96 per litre in Nairobi) after initial talks between transport sector associations and government officials, including Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Roads and Transport CS Davis Chirchir. However, this was coupled with a Sh38.60 increase in kerosene price (to Sh191.38 per litre). Transport sector associations, led by Kushian Muchiri of the Association of Matatu Transport Owners, deemed the diesel reduction insufficient and hardened their stance, calling for drivers to keep their vehicles at home pending further agreements, particularly concerning the parity of diesel and kerosene prices to prevent adulteration.

The nationwide strike inflicted a substantial blow on Kenya's vital flower industry, which reportedly lost an estimated Sh200 million on May 18 alone. The Kenya Flower Council (KFC) reported that between 100 and 200 tonnes of flowers scheduled for export were delayed or affected, exacerbating a deepening crisis for one of the country's top foreign exchange earners. KFC CEO Clement Tulezi emphasized that delayed shipments increase risks of spoilage, financial losses, contractual penalties, and damaged buyer confidence. The strike compounded existing challenges, including a nine percent increase in flower export freight charges due to Middle East conflicts and significant losses from reduced demand, with South American competitors gaining market share.

Later on Tuesday, May 19, a breakthrough was reached as matatu operators agreed to suspend the nationwide strike for one week, following negotiations with the government. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced the suspension, which takes effect immediately and will run until May 26, to allow for high-level talks between both parties. Transport stakeholders, including Kushian Muchiri and Edwin Mukabanah, Chairman of the Federation of Public Transport Sector, expressed readiness for negotiations and urged operators to resume normal activities, apologizing to commuters for the inconvenience. Mukabanah, however, issued a clear warning that the strike would resume if the government failed to act seriously within the agreed timeframe. The government, for its part, affirmed its commitment to stabilizing transport costs through fuel subsidies and tax adjustments, including Sh12 billion in subsidies over two months. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki cautioned against violence, armed robberies, and destruction of property during disputes, emphasizing that such actions undermine national interests.