Matatu Operators Call Off Strike After Talks with Ruto - May 2026

Matatu operators have called off their planned strike after successful negotiations with President William Ruto, averting potential transport disruptions. The CEO of the Federation of Public Transport, Kushien Muchiri, apologized after admitting that criminal elements and politicians infiltrated their protests and torched vehicles. Kennedy Kaunda, the viral figure behind the "with all due respect" statement during protests, was notably absent from the meeting between Ruto and transport operators in Mombasa. President Ruto summoned transport sector stakeholders to Mombasa for urgent high-level talks aimed at averting the nationwide strike scheduled for next week.