Matatu Operators Launch Nationwide Strike Over Escalating Fuel Costs - May 2026

Matatu operators across Kenya have launched a nationwide strike to protest against the escalating cost of fuel, bringing public transport to a standstill. The intensifying global fuel crisis is heavily impacting African nations, with Kenya resorting to government-to-government (G2G) imports amidst deepening shortages that have already gripped neighboring Ethiopia. Several nations are experiencing fuel shortages, impacting transportation services, with Kenya attributing these effects to the Gulf War. Nairobi households are facing increasing financial strain due to persistently high fuel costs, forcing residents into longer working hours and reduced spending.