NAIROBI, Kenya, May 18 — A high-level meeting convened by Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and his Transport counterpart Davis Chirchir failed to break the deadlock between the government and matatu operators protesting soaring fuel prices, leaving the nationwide strike set to continue on Tuesday.

📻 Breaking It Down

The talks held Monday night at Transcom House ended without an agreement after matatu stakeholders rejected a government proposal to lower diesel prices by Sh10, insisting that only a substantial reduction would convince them to call off the strike.

The Transport Sector Alliance subsequently announced that the industrial action that paralysed transport services across the country on Monday would continue into Tuesday.

During a joint press briefing after the meeting, Wandayi initially suggested that progress had been made, particularly on concerns around fuel adulteration linked to the widening gap between diesel and kerosene prices.

📌 What You Need to Know

“One of these issues was the matter of possible adulteration of diesel due to the huge disparity in the prices of diesel and kerosene,” Wandayi said.

“We have come to the understanding that for prudence purposes and to eliminate the risk of fuel adulteration on account of this huge disparity and to save the motor vehicles operating using diesel from possible malfunction, we are going to bridge the gap between the prices of diesel and petrol.”

“That would mean that the price of kerosene would have to go higher as that of diesel comes lower to bridge that gap,” he added before an official from the matatu sector shot up and dismissed the claims, “we have not agreed on anything.”

“We are law-abiding citizens, and we abide by the law; the strike is still on,” he declared, amid cheers from other members as the CSs walked out of the press conference embarrased.

Stakeholders acknowledged there was broad consensus on the need to address fuel adulteration, noting that aligning diesel and kerosene prices would discourage illegal blending practices blamed for damaging commercial vehicle engines.

Kushian Muchiri, Chairperson of the Association of Matatu Transport Owners, clarified that operators had only agreed on measures relating to adulteration and not on the proposed diesel price adjustments.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya