Kenya faces the threat of an unprecedented and total transport lockdown this Monday, May 18, after private motorists, boda boda riders, long-distance truckers, and digital cab operators joined forces with the Matatu Owners Association to declare a massive nationwide strike.
Following a high-level emergency stakeholders’ meeting in Nairobi today, a newly formed umbrella body, the Transport Alliance, released a joint statement declaring that all wheels will grind to a halt in a unified protest against the historic fuel price hikes executed by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Unlike previous industrial actions that primarily featured public service vehicles (PSVs), the upcoming strike represents a massive escalation. The Transport Alliance brings together: The Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) representing private car owners. Boda Boda Riders & Digital Cab Operators (Uber, Bolt, Faras) representing urban micro-transport. Cargo, Freight, and Long-Distance Transporters controlling the country’s logistical supply chains. Tourist Vehicle Operators managing the hospitality transit sector.
“The fuel price increase announced on the 14th has worsened the already unbearable cost of living and directly contributed to skyrocketing commodity prices affecting every Kenyan household,” the Motorists Association of Kenya stated in the joint brief.
Moving beyond simple requests for a price reduction, the Alliance issued a series of radical, sweeping demands aimed directly at the heart of the executive: Immediate Price Reversal: The total withdrawal of the May–June pricing cycle that pushed Diesel to a historic Ksh242.92 and Super Petrol to Ksh214.25. Disbandment of EPRA: The operators accused the regulator of completely failing the public and acting as an enabler for exploitative and punitive pricing models. Full Market Liberalization: A demand for the government to cede control of fuel pricing, arguing that open, market-driven competition would naturally crash pump prices and dismantle state-backed monopolies. Anti-Adulteration Harmonization: Tightening controls to stop politically connected cartels from blending cheaper kerosene into diesel stocks.
Even as commuters brace themselves for a complete lack of transport on Monday, the financial pain has already arrived. Major long-distance shuttle companies—including Transline Classic and ENA Coach—have officially revised their ticketing prices upward to cushion themselves against the immediate Ksh46.29 per litre jump in diesel costs.
In urban centers like Nairobi, matatus have already begun enforcing a 50 per cent fare hike, turning the daily commute into an expensive hurdle for millions of low-income earners.
A synchronized shutdown of trucks, matatus, digital cabs, and boda bodas threatens to paralyze the entire Kenyan economy within hours. Perishable agricultural goods coming from upcountry hubs risk rotting in transit, while major highways like the Thika Superhighway, Mombasa Road, and the Great North Rift corridor could face catastrophic artificial gridlock if operators follow through on threats to abandon or park their fleets on primary lanes.
With political stalwarts like Martha Karua, Rigathi Gachagua, and Edwin Sifuna already using the fuel crisis to corner the Kenya Kwanza administration, the May 18 transport strike is rapidly shifting from an industrial grievance into a major national security and political headache for President William Ruto.