Kenya Transport Strike Halted for a Week After Interim Deal with Government

A transport strike in Kenya, protesting fuel price hikes, has been suspended for a week following an interim agreement between the government and public transport unions.

Wed May 20 2026

Kenya Transport Strike Suspended

The transport strike in Kenya, initiated in protest against rising fuel prices, has been suspended for a week after an interim deal was reached with the government. The capital, Nairobi, experienced significant disruption, with many schools and shops closed and a noticeable reduction in vehicle traffic. The strike, which began on Monday, saw four people killed on its first day, escalating tensions. The Public Transport Federation decided to suspend the strike for seven days to facilitate negotiations with authorities.

Fuel Price Hikes and Public Dissatisfaction

The strike was prompted by a 20% hike in petrol prices and a 40% hike in diesel prices. Initially, the Kenyan government stated there was no room to reduce VAT on petrol. However, on Monday evening, the Minister of Energy announced a solution to reduce the price of diesel by 10 shillings per liter (approximately 6 euro cents). This concession, however, was deemed insufficient by the Public Transport Federation, leading to some continued unrest and even riots in certain suburbs of Nairobi and other towns across Kenya. Protesters are demanding reductions not just in fuel prices, but in the prices of all goods.

Future Outlook

While the strike is currently suspended, concerns remain in Kenya regarding soaring fuel prices and the overall cost of living. There are also broader global worries that rising oil costs, exacerbated by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, could cause unrest elsewhere on the continent. Nevertheless, with the interim deal in place, Nairobi is expected to return to business as usual in the short term.

*Source: YouTube: France 24 English (2026-05-20)*

Tags: #Kenya #Transport Strike #Fuel Prices #Nairobi #Government Deal