Matatu strike: Running battles as police, protesters clash on Ruiru Bypass

Police clashed with protesters at Kihunguro along the Ruiru bypass on Monday morning as demonstrations linked to the nationwide matatu strike turned chaotic.

Videos circulating online showed running battles between anti-riot police officers and groups of youth who had gathered along the busy road to protest against soaring fuel prices and the rising cost of living.

The youth reportedly lit tyres on the road and barricaded sections of the highway with stones, paralysing traffic and preventing motorists from accessing the route for several hours.

Police officers were forced to fire shots in the air to disperse the protesters as tensions escalated in the area.

Officers later moved in to clear the burning tyres and remove stones that had been placed on the road to block vehicles.

The confrontation came as the nationwide matatu strike entered its first day, causing widespread transport disruptions in several parts of the country.

Thousands of commuters in Nairobi and its outskirts were left stranded after matatu operators withdrew services in protest against increased fuel prices announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).

Bus stations and roadside stages were packed with frustrated passengers as early as dawn, while the few available taxis, private vehicles and boda bodas charged inflated fares to desperate commuters.

Amid the escalating tensions, the National Police Service assured Kenyans that adequate security measures had been put in place across the country to maintain law and order during the strike.

In a statement, National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said police had heightened security following reports of planned demonstrations and disruptions linked to the strike.

“The NPS wishes to assure Kenyans of their security as they go about their duties. Security measures have been enhanced, and any disruptive conduct will be dealt with firmly and in accordance with the law,” the statement said.

Police urged members of the public to remain calm and continue with their normal activities while cooperating with law enforcement officers deployed in different parts of the country.

The NPS also maintained that the strike had been organised by “a minority of matatu operators and a section of public service transport actors,” adding that the majority of transport stakeholders had committed to operating normally.

The nationwide shutdown was organised by the Transport Sector Alliance, which brings together passenger transport operators, cargo and logistics firms, ride-hailing services, motorcycle transport operators, tourism transport providers, driving schools, school buses and private motorists.

By Monday morning, uncertainty remained over how long the strike would last, with operators insisting they would continue piling pressure on the government until concerns over fuel prices and the rising cost of living were addressed.

Even as police insisted that most transport stakeholders had not joined the strike, the widespread disruption witnessed across the country highlighted the critical role public transport plays in Kenya’s economy and the growing impact of fuel costs on businesses and households.