Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has warned the matatu sector against increasing transport charges following their decision to call off the strike.

In a press conference held at the party headquarters on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Malala told operators that their decision to suspend the strike for seven days was reached after negotiations with the state, and should not be passed on to commuters in the form of higher fares.

He emphasized that “every Kenyan is affected” by the rising cost of fuel, not just a “small pocket of the transport sector,” adding that any attempt to increase fares would be unacceptable.

He went on to state that the “Reject Fuel” protests were aimed at addressing the broader economic pressure facing ordinary citizens, including farmers, traders, and manufacturers.

According to him, since the operators agreed to shelve their industrial action following talks with the government, they should not shift the cost of those negotiations to the public.

“Every Kenyan is affected by these insensitive fuel hikes, but the government is digging its own political grave deeper while addressing fuel costs. Address every Kenyan, not a small pocket of the transport sector. Every Kenyan is affected, not just the matatu sector,” he said.

“Do not dare increase the cost of transport or fare costs since you agreed to the one-week negotiation with the government to cover your own costs, without consulting the people of Kenya. The high cost of fuel affects farmers, traders, manufacturers, and all Kenyans.”

Matatu strike

This comes a day after a section of stakeholders in the transport sector agreed to call off the strike for seven days as they continue holding talks with the state.

The government, through Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, had proposed lowering the diesel price by Ksh10 and increasing kerosene by Ksh33 for the time being, as they seek more solutions to address the strike that had brought the country to a standstill.

The operators had initially declined the proposal but agreed the following day, giving the government seven days to act on their demands.

Taxi associations

However, other associations, such as the taxi association, have refused to resume operations, saying that the decision to lower diesel prices was reached in consultation with the matatu sector, which mainly consumes diesel, and did not take them into consideration since they primarily use petrol.