News18 May 2026 - 11:26

[PHOTOS] What next? Stranded Kangemi commuters ponder next move as matatu strike bites

Scenes of uncertainty, frustration and resignation unfolded at the Kangemi flyover as matatus stayed off the road.

by EMMANUEL WANJALA

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Commuters at Kangemi market on Monday morning found themselves stranded at the busy bus terminus after the nationwide matatu strike protesting high fuel prices paralysed public transport operations.

As the shutdown took effect across Nairobi and other towns, scenes of uncertainty, frustration and resignation unfolded at the Kangemi flyover and the makeshift bus stage beneath the underpass along Waiyaki Way.

While some commuters chose to begin the long walk to their destinations, hundreds of others appeared unsure of what to do next, lingering at the terminus in the hope that a matatu, bus or any alternative means of transport would eventually emerge.

Some leaned quietly against the barriers at the Kangemi flyover, staring into the distance as traffic flowed sporadically along Waiyaki Way.

Others remained glued to their phones, either scrolling through updates or making calls to workplaces, family members and friends as uncertainty over the strike deepened.

At the crowded underpass, groups stood silently with hands buried in pockets while others sat on roadside edges watching the morning unfold around them.

Every so often, motorcycles cut through the congestion carrying two or even three passengers at once as desperate commuters turned to boda bodas despite the safety and legal concerns associated with overloading.

A short distance away along Waiyaki Way, tensions occasionally flared after some individuals barricaded sections of the road using stones, temporarily disrupting the movement of private vehicles and forcing police officers into running confrontations as they struggled to clear the obstructions.

The scenes captured the broader impact of the transport shutdown that has left thousands of Nairobi residents grappling with uncertainty, delayed schedules and difficult choices amid the rising cost of fuel and living.