Fuel price protest leaves commuters stranded nationwide

Commuters in Nairobi walked to work on Monday as a nationwide transport strike paralyzed major roads and towns across the country. Prior to dawn, several roads had been barricaded with stones and burning tires, causing complete traffic paralysis in certain areas. In Nairobi’s central business district, only a limited number of private vehicles were visible as police maintained positions at key locations to prevent the situation from worsening. Sections of Thika Road near Githurai and Kenyatta Road were obstructed, compelling many drivers to retreat. Only miraa transport vehicles, ambulances, and fire engines were permitted passage. The confrontation intensified when police deployed tear gas to clear the roads and restore normal traffic flow. Similar scenes unfolded in Kitengela, where protesters denied access to private cars and school buses at makeshift checkpoints. In Kangemi along Waiyaki Way, both local and long-distance travelers faced disruptions as thoroughfares were blocked. Boda boda riders on Ngong Road segments also participated in the road blockade, further impeding traffic. In Murang’a, bus terminals stood empty while portions of the Murang’a-Mukuyu highway were obstructed with stones and burning objects. Throughout the day, comparable disruptions were reported in Mwingi, Mombasa, Makueni, Nanyuki, Kisii, the Eldoret-Kitale highway, Busia, Embu, and additional regions. Motorists and travelers have called on authorities to implement immediate measures to reduce fuel prices, stating that escalating fuel costs have made daily life progressively more challenging. “We respectfully request fuel prices to decrease so that living expenses may also come down. Everything has become more expensive,” remarked a Kenyan citizen interviewed during the demonstrations.