Thousands of commuters in Nairobi were left stranded on Monday morning after matatu operators made good on their threat to paralyse public transport services in protest against soaring fuel prices.
Bus stages across the city were packed with frustrated
commuters as early as 5am, with many hoping to secure transport before the
strike took full effect.
However, most routes remained deserted as matatus stayed off the roads, triggering chaos and long delays for workers and students trying to reach their destinations.
At Mutindwa stage along Outer Ring Road, stranded passengers expressed frustration over the sudden disruption that crippled movement across the capital.
“I have been here from 4am. I thought I would get a matatu if I was at the stage early enough but too bad,” said Solomon Kamau, one of hundreds of commuters waiting in vain for transport.
The shortage of public service vehicles created an opportunity for private motorists and boda boda riders, who charged exorbitant fares as desperate commuters scrambled for alternatives.
Some private car owners were charging up to Sh250 for trips to the Central Business District. Despite the high charges, the available vehicles were too few to meet the overwhelming demand.
Boda boda operators also capitalised on the crisis, with
many commuters opting to use motorcycles regardless of the inflated prices.
The disruption followed a joint statement issued on Sunday, May 17, by the Transport Sector Alliance announcing a nationwide shutdown of operations in protest against the recent increase in fuel prices by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
The Truckers Association of Kenya also joined matatu operators in threatening a nationwide strike beginning Monday over the sharp rise in fuel prices.
Truckers Association General Secretary Dennis Kilia warned that transporters and truck drivers would completely down their tools unless the government intervened to lower fuel prices.
“We are not happy with the fuel increment,” Kilia said.
“In short, we are telling the government if they will not reduce the prices by Monday, we will tell our members to down their tools completely,” he added.
The Matatu Owners Association, led by chairman Albert Karakacha, maintained that operators could no longer sustain the rising operational costs brought about by the latest fuel review.
“On Monday, there will be strictly no movement of any vehicles; all the roads will be blocked until the government listens to our cry because we have been promised, but everything we are promised has not come to fulfilment,” Karakacha said.
The operators accused the government of ignoring repeated pleas from the transport sector over the increasing cost of doing business, saying the latest fuel hike had pushed many operators to the brink.
The announcement came after the government, through EPRA,
revised retail fuel prices upwards in its latest pricing cycle.
According to EPRA, the price of diesel increased by Sh46.29 per litre while super petrol rose by Sh16.65 per litre.
In Nairobi, petrol is now retailing at Sh214.25 per litre while diesel costs Sh242.92, prices that stakeholders in the transport sector say are unsustainable.
