Matatu drivers and conductors in Kenya have threatened to bring public transport to a halt after being shut out of fuel price reduction negotiations between their employers and the government.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The Matatu Workers Union (MWU) and the Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LODCA) vowed, during a press briefing on May 27, not to return to work unless their demands are heard and addressed.

Maurice Oduor, the Secretary General of MWU, spelled it out plainly, saying vehicle owners have refused to adjust their earnings downward even as operational costs have risen sharply across the board.

"Employers have decided that they will take their money. If a car was worth Ksh8,000, he will charge Ksh8,000 without knowing that the cost of fuel has gone up," Oduor said.

📌 What You Need to Know

The nationwide matatu strike was officially called off on May 22, 2026 following direct consultations between President William Ruto and transport stakeholders at State House in Mombasa.

The talks between the two parties resulted in a further Ksh10 reduction in diesel prices, which will now retail at Ksh232.86 until the June cycle.

Before that, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced a new retail price of Ksh242.92 per litre, a historic high for diesel, which most public service vehicles run on.

However, industry players say the reduction falls far short of what the transport sector actually needs, with stakeholders estimating that a cut of at least Ksh46 per litre is required to adequately cover operational costs, including driver payments and fuel expenses, a gap they say is at the heart of the ongoing tensions in the sector.

The biggest point of concern from matatu workers is being completely sidelined when employers and the government sat down to negotiate an end to the recent matatu strike, without a single driver or conductor in the room.

Further, the workers say their pay has not kept up with the rising cost of fuel, leaving many barely able to survive despite working long, gruelling hours.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke