Transport Sector Alliance halts operations
The Transport Sector Alliance announced on Sunday that vehicles affiliated with its member associations would cease operation from midnight in protest of fuel price hikes. These protests were prompted by the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has squeezed global oil and gas supplies.
Police stated they would take action to address any disruptions caused by the strike. The Interior Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, reported that four Kenyans lost their lives and over 30 others sustained injuries during Monday’s protests against fuel price hikes.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority raised retail fuel prices by up to 23.5% last week, following a similar hike of 24.2% the previous month. The conflict in the Middle East has driven global oil and gas supplies down, leading to higher fuel costs for Kenyans.
A meeting between transport and energy ministers with public transport operators on Monday aimed at resolving the issue but resulted in little progress. The association accepted a proposal from the government to bridge the disparity between diesel and kerosene prices to prevent adulteration, but disagreed on how much the prices could be reduced. Associations demanded a reduction of 46 shillings per litre.
The strike affected roads into Nairobi, with police using tear gas in some areas as protesters blocked access to key routes. In Mombasa, the main port city, fears of supply-chain delays increased due to Kenya’s reliance on Middle Eastern fuel imports for its domestic market.