NAIROBI, May 19 – Four people were killed and more than 30 injured during protests over rising fuel prices in Kenya on Monday, as a nationwide public transport strike disrupted movement across major towns and left thousands of commuters stranded.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the deaths occurred during violent demonstrations sparked by recent increases in petrol and diesel prices following supply pressures linked to the Iran conflict.
The strike, led by the Transport Sector Alliance, began at midnight after transport operators opposed the latest fuel price adjustments announced by Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority. Roads leading into Nairobi were blocked by operators and protesters, while police fired tear gas in some areas as demonstrators burned tyres and barricaded major routes.
Last week, Kenya raised retail fuel prices by as much as 23.5% after a 24.2% increase the previous month, citing tighter global oil and gas supplies linked to tensions in the Middle East. Super petrol in Nairobi rose to 214.25 Kenyan shillings ($1.66) per litre from 206.97 shillings, while diesel climbed sharply to 242.92 shillings from 196.63 shillings for the May 15 to June 14 pricing cycle.
Finance Minister John Mbadi said the current prices were already subsidised and confirmed talks were held with transport operators to ease tensions. However, negotiations ended without a final agreement after operators pushed for deeper reductions in diesel prices.
In Mombasa, Kenya’s main port city, the strike raised concerns over possible supply-chain disruptions.
Kenya imports nearly all its fuel products from the Middle East through government-to-government deals with Gulf suppliers. The latest fuel hikes have pushed transport fares and food prices higher, adding pressure on households already battling rising living costs.
