Kenya transporters, school bus drivers begin nationwide strike sake of fuel prices

Kenya transport sector don begin nationwide strike sake of di rising fuel prices as operators across di industry decide to suspend services all ova di kontri.

Di strike don begin disrupt public transport and logistics operations, as city buses 'matatus', motorcycle taxis 'boda bodas', taxis and cargo transporters don begin stay off di roads.

For one joint statement wey dem issue on Sunday, The Transport Sector Alliance say all vehicles under participating associations go stay off di road as part of coordinated industrial action on di rise of fuel prices.

Di alliance say di strike bin receive support from a wide range of transport subsectors, including passenger transport operators, cargo and logistics companies, ride-hailing services, boda boda operators, tourism transport providers, driving school, school buses and private motorists.

"Following a high-level consultative meeting wey hold today, Sunday (17th May) all stakeholders for Kenya transport sector don unanimously reaffirm say no vehicle go move starting midnight today (Sunday). Di nationwide strike wey dey scheduled for Monday dey fully on," di statement read.

Some schools don issue notices and warn parents of possible disruption to student transport services as di strike take effect. On social media, some users don describe di move as necessary, calling for urgent negotiations to resolve di dispute.

Eveleen Mitei, di Acting Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Teachers Service Commission (TSC), share comment for Facebook say di transport sector remain vital pillar of di economy, and add say any disruption highlight di urgency of addressing cost pressures through structured and inclusive engagement.

She say sustainable solution gatz prioritise both economic stability and di livelihoods of dose wey dey keep di kontri moving.

Among di joinbodis wey dey behind di strike na di Federation of Public Transport Sector, di Matatu Owners Association, di Truckers Association of Kenya, Digital Taxi Association of Kenya and di Association of Bus Operators.

Di collabo joinbodi claim say di level of support dem get accros di industry bin give di planned strike 99 percent success rate.

Di alliance tok say, "dis action no be for just transport operators, but for evri Kenyan citizen. Di ordinary citizen na dem dey suffer pass from high fuel prices as e dey make dem to pay more for transport, food, electricity, and essential commodities..."

"... na sake of dis reason wey farmers, business owners, workers and consumers around di kontri don alreadi tanda for our back gidigba. Dem dey expected to run di demonstrations for dia towns, shopping centres and local communities," di statement tok.

Di Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) for Kenya bin announce new fuel prices wey start from 15 May to 14 June wia for Nairobi, petrol increase by Kenya Shillings 16.65 ($0.11) to Shillings 214.25 ($1.43), per litre while diesel increase by 46.29 shillings ($0.31) to shillings 242.92($1.62) per litre.

Di collabo joinbodi no gree for di price increase as dem call for immediate reversal for di increases wey dem bin announce on 14 May.

Dem also dey ask for dem to drop prices of fuel and diesel prices to like 152 shillings ($1.18) per litre, as dem say e go ease di rise in cost of living. Di group add further say dem wan make all petroleum products to dey standardised for di same price as kerosene wey be 152.78 shillings ($1.18) per litre.

On top of dat, dem dey also push make dem scata EPRA, restructure di National Oil Corporation of Kenya and bring back di Changamwe Oil Refinery so dem go dey refine crude oil locally.

Di alliance also call out di govment-to-govment fuel buying arrangement say make e go back to competitive free-market system for di petroleum sector.