Government officials and transport sector stakeholders during a consultative meeting at Transcom House in Nairobi on Monday night, May 18, 2026, over fuel prices and the planned nationwide transport strike.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has issued an emergency recalculation of maximum pump prices, slashing diesel by KSh 10.06 per litre while simultaneously hiking kerosene by KSh 38.60 per litre .
However, the late-night intervention has failed to break the deadlock, with transport operators declaring that the nationwide transport strike will continue into Tuesday.
Revised Pump Prices in Nairobi (Effective May 19 – June 14, 2026)
Diesel: KSh 232.86 (Down KSh 10.06)
Kerosene: KSh 191.38 (Up KSh 38.60)
[uper Petrol: KSh 214.25 (Unchanged)
CS Wandayi Defends the Cut: “We Reached Our Limit”
Following a six-hour deadlocked meeting, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi urged transport operators to be realistic, explaining that the state has exhausted its financial options to lower costs
“We have listened to the public transport sector and aggressively re-adjusted the pricing model to offer immediate relief on diesel . However, we must remain realistic. Kenya does not control global oil markets, and the landing costs from the Middle East are exceptionally high right now.”Cs Wandayi stated.
The state’s refusal to grant further cuts shifts the focus directly onto the long-term sustainability of the national budget. The Ministry of Energy clarified that expanding the scope of fuel subsidies right now would force the government to borrow heavily or suspend critical public services.
This economic boundary has left both policymakers and transport operators locked in an unyielding legislative stalemate.
“Demanding a drop to KSh 152 is economically impossible without completely crashing our national budget . We ask the matatu sector to accept this compromise and return to work.” Wandayi added.
“Sh10 is an Insult”: Matatu Operators Reject Deal
Despite the CS’s plea, the Matatu Owners Association firmly rejected the KSh 10 reduction, labeling it a numeric game that fails to make the public transport business sustainable .
“The strike is on. It will proceed until we have a real negotiation with the government. They offered a Sh10 reduction, but we demand fuel prices be reduced by at least Sh46 to match our survival threshold,” the Matatu Owners Association stated in a joint press briefing .
The Demands: What the Transport Alliance Wants
Transport operators, truck drivers, digital cab drivers, and boda boda riders have unified under the Transport Alliance umbrella, presenting an unyielding list of core demands to the state .
Substantial Price Cuts: An immediate reversal of the mid-May fuel price hikes, demanding that petrol and diesel prices be lowered to approximately KSh 152 per litre.
Disbandment of EPRA: The complete dissolution of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, calling for an independent energy regulation commission to protect citizens from sudden price shocks.
End G-to-G Fuel Deal: Scrap the current Government-to-Government fuel procurement framework and return to a competitive free-market system to drive landing costs down.
Scrap the Retest: Eliminate the mandatory commercial driver re-testing policies in their entirety.
Security Commitments: Active government protection against violent flare-ups and burning of vehicles during local sector clashes.
Urban Gridlock and Commuter Pain
With major operators like Super Metro suspending services until further notice, commuters across primary commerce hubs are bracing themselves for a second day of a “walking nation” .
Nairobi & Mombasa: Bus stages remain quiet, with minimal vehicles on the road [n382915]. Alternative transit fares, including boda bodas and private vehicles, have reportedly tripled.
Protest Tensions: Interior ministry officials confirmed that demonstrations turned violent on Monday, resulting in four deaths, 30 injuries, and over 340 arrests as police clashed with protestors blocking major highways .
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi supported Wandayi’s stance, maintaining that the government has already absorbed global price shock pressures via a KSh 5 billion subsidy. He warned that domestic emotional decisions cannot solve global oil supply strains. However, with public transport networks holding firm on their shutdown, the economic standoff shows no signs of clearing up.
