Kitengela matatu fares back to normal as operators suspend strike

Kenyans are going about their normal businesses in Kitengela, Kajiado County, on May 19, 2026./GEORGE OWITI

Relief swept through Kitengela on Tuesday after matatu operators called off anti-fuel hike protests and restored normal fare rates along the busy Nairobi-Namanga highway.

Passengers travelling from Kitengela to Nairobi, who had earlier been forced to pay as much as Sh300, were by Tuesday afternoon paying the normal Sh100 fare following the resumption of public service vehicles.

The sharp fare hike in the morning had left tens of commuters stranded as most matatus stayed off the roads during the nationwide protests over soaring fuel prices.

Operations, however, gradually returned to normal after transport operators resumed services following talks between sector officials and the government.

Matatu operators resume operations in Kitengela, Kajiado County on May 19, 2026. / GEORGE OWITI

Matatu operators resume operations in Kitengela, Kajiado County on May 19, 2026/ GEORGE OWITI

Even as matatus resumed operations, operators said the protests had failed to achieve their intended objective since fuel prices remain high.

“As Kenyans, we have been suffering since the burden caused by the fuel hike is high. We are, however, charging the normal fare of Sh100 from Kitengela to Nairobi unlike this morning when some operators charged Sh300 to Nairobi,” said Francis Mbugua, a driver with Rembo Shuttle.

Mbugua said he had never witnessed such a steep increase in fuel prices in the decade he has worked in the transport sector.

He also lamented the losses operators incurred during the two-day protests.

“We will be back to full operations tomorrow. We, the matatu operators together with vehicle owners, lost yesterday’s and today’s earnings due to the protests,” he said.

Business returns to normal in Kitengela, Kajiado County on May 19, 2026/ GEORGE OWITI

Joseph Ng’ang’a, an attendant at the Kitengela stage, welcomed the agreement to end the demonstrations, saying operators were relieved to return to work despite the unresolved fuel crisis.

“The business has become difficult since fuel prices were increased. Some of the vehicles we operate were bought through loans which are yet to be serviced. We urge the government to reduce fuel costs as soon as possible,” Ng’ang’a said.

He added that operators were reluctant to increase fares further because passengers were already struggling with the high cost of living.

“We don’t want to overburden passengers. At the same time, we want to repay loans. We were not in operation in the morning. We just returned to work after the protests were called off this noon,” he said.

Another operator, Meshack Muzungu, said the protests ended without tangible results for the sector.

“The two-day protests haven’t borne any fruit. We have resumed operations without a solution. Fuel prices haven’t changed,” Muzungu said.

Kenyans are going about their normal businesses in Kitengela, Kajiado County, on May 19, 2026./GEORGE OWITI

Despite the frustrations, business activity returned to normal across towns affected by Monday’s protests.

In Kitengela, traders reopened shops early Tuesday as security was heightened across the town.

Police officers from different stations in Kajiado County were deployed to reinforce security patrols in the area, while senior police officers joined operations on the ground.

The Nairobi-Namanga highway remained calm throughout the day, with a similar situation reported along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, where transport and business activities continued uninterrupted.