Motorist strike: Stakeholders demand disbandment of EPRA, lowering fuel prices

Transport sector players have intensified pressure on the government over rising fuel prices, announcing a nationwide strike beginning Monday and demanding the immediate disbandment of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).

In a statement issued under the Transport Alliance umbrella, the stakeholders accused the government of imposing “sharp and unjustified” fuel price increases through EPRA, saying the latest adjustments had worsened the cost of living for Kenyans.

The strike notice follows a joint stakeholders’ meeting held in Nairobi, bringing together representatives from the Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK), matatu owners and operators, boda boda associations, digital cab operators, tourist vehicle operators, cargo and freight transporters, commuter representatives, motorists, borehole drilling machine operators and generator owners.

The alliance said the planned industrial action and peaceful protests would begin countrywide on Monday, May 18, 2026.

“The meeting noted with great concern that the fuel price increase announced on 14th has worsened the already unbearable cost of living and directly contributed to skyrocketing commodity prices affecting every Kenyan household,” the statement read.

Among the demands issued by the stakeholders is the immediate withdrawal of the latest fuel price increase announced on May 14.

The alliance also called for the harmonisation of fuel prices in what it says would help to prevent dangerous and illegal mixing of fuel products with kerosene.

Further, the transport players demanded the immediate disbandment of EPRA for failing Kenyans and enabling exploitative fuel pricing.

They also called for the liberalisation of fuel pricing and the removal of what they termed as excessive government control to allow fair market-driven competition.

The stakeholders appealed to Kenyans across the country to join the planned protests.

“The Transport Alliance further calls upon all Kenyans suffering under the burden of high fuel costs and rising commodity prices to join the nationwide protests beginning Monday. This action is a united stand for economic justice, fairness, and the protection of livelihoods,” the statement added.

The latest announcement comes barely a day after matatu operators declared a 50 per cent fare increase and threatened to paralyse transport services across the country in protest against rising fuel prices.

On Friday, Matatu Owners Association President Albert Karakacha warned that operators would withdraw transport services until the government addressed their concerns over the rising cost of fuel.

The protests follow EPRA’s latest monthly fuel review in which the prices of Super Petrol and Diesel increased by Ksh.16.65 and Ksh.46.29 per litre, respectively.

The latest adjustments pushed the retail price of Super Petrol in Nairobi to Ksh.214.25 per litre, while Diesel now retails at Ksh.242.92.