Kenya faces a nationwide fuel strike starting midnight on Monday, 18 May 2026. The Transport Sector Alliance has called on drivers, operators and ordinary citizens to join the action in protest over rising costs and industry pressures that have squeezed livelihoods for months.
The alliance issued a joint statement outlining the full scope of the shutdown. Passenger transport, cargo trucks, logistics firms, ride-hailing services, motorcycle taxis, tourism vehicles, driving schools and school buses will all stay off the roads. Private motorists have also been urged to park their cars in solidarity. The action will cover cities, municipalities, towns and trading centres from Mombasa to Kisumu and everywhere in between.
bana.co.ke spoke with Joseph Mwangi, a long-time matatu driver in Nairobi, who described the daily struggle that led to this point. “Every morning we fill the tank and wonder if we will make enough to feed our families by evening,” he said outside a fuel station in Eastleigh.
“The prices keep climbing while passengers bargain harder. Something had to give.” His words echo what many in the sector have told reporters in recent weeks as frustration built toward this coordinated response.
Why the Strike is Happening Now
Fuel costs have remained a sore point for Kenyan households and businesses since global price swings hit local pumps hard. Operators say taxes, levies and fluctuating international crude prices have combined to make operations almost impossible without passing extra costs to customers. Many small business owners who rely on daily deliveries already report thinner margins and worried customers.
Farmers in the Rift Valley and central highlands have been asked to join by keeping their produce trucks parked. Market traders in Nakuru and Eldoret worry about fresh vegetables and milk spoiling if supplies cannot move. In coastal areas, tourism operators fear the timing could affect early-week visitors arriving at Moi International Airport.
The alliance emphasised that the strike should remain peaceful. They called on private vehicle owners, farmers and businesspeople to participate without confrontation. Security officials in Nairobi have already increased presence at major junctions and bus terminals in anticipation of reduced traffic flow.
What This Means for Ordinary Kenyans
Commuters in greater Nairobi may need to wake up earlier or work from home if possible. Those in smaller towns like Nyeri, Meru and Kakamega could see boda boda riders absent and few public service vehicles operating. School runs will be affected, forcing many parents to make alternative arrangements for Monday and potentially beyond.
Logistics companies moving goods from the Port of Mombasa inland have warned of delays that could ripple through supply chains. One warehouse manager in the industrial area told bana.co.ke his team was rushing to clear as many lorries as possible before the deadline. “We support the drivers because when they suffer, the prices we pay for everything go up too,” he said.
The strike arrives at a time when many families are still adjusting to economic pressures after last year’s difficult harvest seasons in some regions. Residents in informal settlements often spend a large portion of their income on transport, making any disruption immediately felt.
Local authorities have not yet issued a formal response to the alliance’s announcement, but county governments are expected to monitor the situation closely. Past transport protests in Kenya have sometimes lasted several days before negotiations brought services back online. Whether this one ends quickly will depend on how talks develop once the action begins.
As the clock ticks toward midnight, tension and determination mix in equal measure across the transport community. From the busy streets of downtown Nairobi to quiet trading posts in western Kenya, people are watching to see how the country responds when wheels stop turning.
