Kenya has been gripped by widespread and chaotic protests sparked by significant fuel price hikes announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). These demonstrations, which have seen citizens take to the streets across various towns, reflect deep public anger over escalating living costs and what many perceive as a government that imposes heavy taxes without adequately addressing the economic burden on ordinary Kenyans.

The protests turned particularly violent and disruptive in Kitengela, Kajiado County, where property worth millions of shillings was destroyed. What began as peaceful demonstrations quickly escalated as goons took control of the town. Numerous business outlets were looted, including a Coca-Cola Depot from which drinks worth millions were stolen. Shops also suffered break-ins, leading to the theft of mobile phones and accessories. The Nairobi-Namanga highway, a vital link between Kenya and Tanzania, became impassable as hundreds of youths barricaded it with large stones and lit bonfires, paralyzing transport for an an entire day. Businesses along the highway were forced to close, and tourists heading to Amboseli National Park cancelled their trips due to the unrest. Residents expressed shock at the situation, with Juma Mwangozi stating that while people are aggrieved, protests should be peaceful, not characterized by thuggery. Mary Waithira lamented the infiltration of goons, calling for strengthened security, while James Ole Konana warned that Kitengela's peaceful reputation was being eroded, potentially driving away investors.

Similar scenes unfolded in Nakuru, where youths protested rising fuel prices and harsh economic conditions, particularly along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway at Free Area. Police arrested approximately 33 individuals during these demonstrations. Twenty protesters were fined Sh2,000 each or sentenced to a 30-day jail term for obstructing city streets and the highway. Another individual denied the charge and was released on a Sh5,000 cash bail. Many arrested cited the harsh economy, with one stating, "The price of fuel and food, including tomatoes, has increased, but my little income in a day has stagnated." Twelve more individuals from Njoro faced similar charges for barricading the Nakuru-Njoro highway and received comparable penalties. Four of these faced an additional charge of vandalizing a police vehicle windshield, with two admitting guilt and receiving a Sh5,000 fine each, while the other two denied the charge and were released on bond.

The capital, Nairobi, also experienced significant disruption, with the protests contributing to a nationwide matatu strike that left many commuters stranded. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen reported a grim toll: four people killed and 30 injured during the demonstrations, alongside numerous businesses looted and vehicles torched across different parts of the country. In a notable development, Chief Inspector Dishen Angoya, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Central Police Station, was arrested and detained at Lang’ata Police Station. He is under investigation for allegedly authorizing the release of 64 people detained during the Monday protests. Angoya, who had served at Central Police Station for only about a month, was later rushed to hospital after falling ill in custody, suspected to have suffered high blood pressure.

Meru town also bore the brunt of the protests, with businesses counting significant losses. Anti-riot police sealed off surrounding estates to prevent demonstrators from reaching the town center, leading to running battles in areas like Majengo and Makutano. Teargas canisters were fired across Meru and its environs. The Meru-Embu highway was heavily patrolled, with police and some residents working to remove boulders and extinguish bonfires. Scores of businesses, including a general shop, were looted. Mary Nkirote, a vendor, reported having her juices, coffee, and buns confiscated by protesters. Residents, like Damaris Gakii, faced difficulties buying food, while James Murithi, a butchery owner, expressed concern over potential losses if his meat spoiled due to forced closure. The disruptions even affected personal events, with Francis Kimaita forced to postpone a kin's burial, incurring additional expenses.

The protests were a forceful message to the government regarding its persistent avoidance of addressing rising fuel prices and their broader economic implications. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority's May review saw diesel prices surge by Sh46.29 per litre and petrol by Sh16.65, triggering the unrest. The government's multi-layered taxation on fuel, including the petroleum development levy, road maintenance levy, and excise duty, has significantly driven up pump prices, making fuel in Kenya more expensive than in neighboring countries, even for petroleum transiting to landlocked Uganda. Transport operators, though meeting with Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi and Transport CS Davis Chirchir, rejected EPRA's subsequent downward revision of diesel prices by Sh10 (to Sh232.86 per litre in Nairobi), demanding a larger reduction. The economic damage from even a single day of nationwide protests was immense, with billions lost as workers couldn't reach their jobs, factories couldn't move goods, and commerce ground to a halt. This paralysis also meant a significant loss of tax revenue for the government. Critics argued that the government's habit of waiting out public anger is misplaced this time, as the cost-of-living burden is real and sustained for millions. The call remains for the government to urgently and meaningfully revisit these fuel taxes to ease the burden on Kenyans.