Matatu operators have terminated their planned industrial action following discussions with President William Ruto, eliminating concerns about potential transport resumption disruptions in the coming days.
The transport providers had previously halted the strike for a seven-day period to facilitate government negotiations after a nationwide protest against escalating fuel costs brought passenger transport services to a virtual standstill across various regions.
Speaking to the nation from State House in Mombasa Friday morning, Ruto revealed extensive consultations with transport sector leadership on Thursday as part of ongoing efforts to address operator concerns permanently.
The Head of State announced an additional diesel price reduction of Sh10 per litre during the upcoming June-July fuel pricing review, complementing prior initiatives implemented to shield consumers and enterprises from mounting international oil price impacts.
This latest adjustment is projected to decrease diesel costs to Sh222.86 per litre in Nairobi, providing financial relief to public transport operators, logistics firms, agricultural workers and industrial manufacturers who rely heavily on the fuel.
Albert Karakacha, National Chairman of the Matatu Owners Association (MOA), stated that the recent government intervention, combined with sustained dialogue between authorities and transport representatives, convinced operators to abandon additional strike plans.
“We have ended the strike. We had postponed it temporarily, but now we’ve cancelled it completely. There will be no strike next week; we will resume operations,” Karakacha declared.
He expressed appreciation for government measures to stabilize fuel prices and committed the sector’s support to initiatives protecting livelihoods and maintaining economic activity. Karakacha also acknowledged Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja for his mediation role during the dispute, noting that the engagement prevented further transportation chaos in the capital.
“We recognize Nairobi County incurred substantial financial losses, and we reached an understanding with him that collaborative efforts would ensure smooth operations moving forward. Therefore, we extend our gratitude to both government and the President. They have resolved numerous long-standing issues affecting us,” he explained.
The fuel pricing crisis originated from the May 14 decision by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), which raised Super Petrol prices by Sh16.65 per litre and Diesel by Sh46.29 per litre, causing Nairobi pump prices to reach Sh214.25 and Sh242.92 respectively.
The substantial increases triggered widespread discontent among transport providers and vehicle owners, ultimately leading to a nationwide two-day strike organized by the Transport Sector Alliance.
Commuters faced lengthy walking journeys to workplaces as minibus taxis, ride-hailing services, freight transporters and motorcycle taxis ceased operations in protest.
Subsequently, authorities implemented a diesel price decrease of Sh10.06 per litre and commenced discussions with industry representatives. Although transport operators initially rejected this compromise, maintaining that it failed to meet their demand for Sh30-Sh35 per litre reductions, further dialogues established a temporary pause that culminated in resolution.
With normal transportation services resuming nationwide, Karakacha appealed to political figures and citizens to refrain from politicizing the fuel situation and concentrate on economic recovery. “Let’s focus on developing our nation; political considerations will arise again in 2027,” he concluded.