{"id":801974,"date":"2026-05-19T13:39:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T10:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.capitalfm.co.ke\/news\/?p=801974"},"modified":"2026-05-19T13:40:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T10:40:45","slug":"kenya-matatu-strike-suspended-fuel-talks-diesel-prices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.capitalfm.co.ke\/news\/2026\/05\/kenya-matatu-strike-suspended-fuel-talks-diesel-prices\/","title":{"rendered":"Matatu operators suspend nationwide strike for one week in fresh talks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 19 \u2014 Transport sector leaders who dramatically rejected the government\u2019s fuel deal on Monday have now agreed to suspend the nationwide matatu strike for one week to allow fresh negotiations aimed at resolving the standoff over soaring diesel prices.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading the shift in tone was transport stakeholder representative Kennedy Kaunda, who had publicly contradicted Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi during chaotic scenes at Transcom House on Monday night, after the government prematurely announced a breakthrough in talks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, however, Kaunda confirmed that transport operators had agreed to temporarily suspend the strike and give negotiations another chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith all due respect, and the respect that we have been given today here, we want to extend that respect to the media and to the nation,\u201d Kaunda said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat we have agreed here is that the strike has been suspended.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaunda, who is Group CEO of the Tourist Guide Association, added that operators remained prepared to resume industrial action if talks fail to produce a meaningful outcome within seven days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince we have suspended the strike to give room for negotiation, and if we are not able to agree, we\u2019ll come back for the same,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fresh talks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The breakthrough followed a fresh round of high-level consultations between government officials and public transport leaders after Monday\u2019s tense fallout, where matatu operators openly rejected Wandayi\u2019s claim that an agreement had already been reached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Monday night briefing, operators accused the government of misrepresenting the outcome, insisting that the Sh10 reduction in diesel prices fell far short of their demand for a Sh30 to Sh46 per litre cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The disagreement triggered chaotic scenes as government officials exited the press conference while transport leaders remained behind to dispute the announcement before television cameras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the government had agreed to continue negotiations while implementing immediate measures to cushion operators and consumers from rising fuel costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe government last night took additional measures to remedy the situation by reducing the price of diesel by Sh10 per litre,\u201d Murkomen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Govt announces suspension of fuel strike until Tuesday to allow further talks<\/a><\/blockquote>