Fuel Strike Leaves Kiambu Farmers Counting Losses

Horticulture and dairy farmers in Lari constituency of Kiambu suffered losses on Monday when vehicles transporting their produce to markets were prevented from entering the area.
The vehicles halted operations to join the matatu strike against increased fuel prices that affected the country last week.
“We also use diesel, whose price has risen excessively. We demand proper resolution to this issue. We chose to join the matatus, similar to other fuel consumers,” stated Kenneth Kamau.
“We want President William Ruto to address this matter effectively so that prices become affordable,” Kamau emphasized.
Horticulture farmers were particularly impacted, with many forced to return home with their unsold produce.
Perishable vegetables including kale and spinach in bags couldn’t be collected, leaving farmers to take them home for feeding livestock.
George Kimani, an Uplands farmer, reported harvesting three bags of kale that he had to feed to his cows and sheep.
Kimani explained that no buyers purchase kale and spinach that are more than one day old.
“Our warehouses buy kale and spinach harvested on the same day. Only carrots and cabbages can be purchased later,” he noted.
Solomon Mwangi, who purchases milk from farmers for resale, revealed that numerous milk vendors couldn’t collect milk due to blocked roads.
Mwangi, who sells over 2,000 liters of milk in Kawangware, mentioned his inability to reach Lari to collect the produce.
“Youth protesters blocked the Nairobi-Nakuru highway particularly at Gitaru, Zambezi, Acre Five in Kikuyu constituency, and at Rironi, Kamandura, Kwambira and Ngarariga in Limuru constituency,” Mwangi stated.
Despite police efforts to maintain traffic flow on the highway in Lari, Mwangi expressed concern about failing to deliver milk to customers, some of whom had reported being closed for business.
Protests were also observed at Kamahindu, Kagwe, and Soko Mjinga in Lari.
Police officers led by the Lari OCS patrolled the Nairobi-Nakuru highway from Nyambari to Soko Mjinga, clearing roads blocked by youths with large stones.
At Nyambari, youth protesters demanded money from motorists to allow passage, with some paying between Sh 100 and Sh 500.
However, heavy rainfall in the afternoon dispersed the protesters, who abandoned the highway and did not return.
Politician Simon Peter Karanja attributed the protests to Ruto, stating he wouldn’t have approved the fuel increase given the country’s struggling economy.
“Everyone acknowledges our nation’s economic difficulties. The president shouldn’t have allowed fuel prices to rise,” Karanja asserted.
“The economic drivers are struggling and require government support through tax reductions, plain and simple,” he added.
In Limuru town, youth protesters lit bonfires with old tires and blocked roads with large stones.
They also obstructed motorists and motorcyclists attempting to reach petrol stations, even deflating their tires.