Matatu strike: Roads rendered impassable as protests erupt in Kitengela town
By Mustafa Juma, May 18, 2026Protests erupted in Kitengela town on Monday, May 18, 2026, as sections of key roads were barricaded during the ongoing nationwide matatu strike over high fuel prices, bringing transport activity to a standstill.
Demonstrators lit bonfires using tyres and used stones to block roads, effectively rendering several routes impassable and disrupting movement within and around the fast-growing town in Kajiado County.
The Namanga Road section stretching through the busy Kitengela town was the most affected.
The protests are part of a wider industrial action by public transport operators who are opposing recent increases in fuel prices, which they say have made operations unsustainable and triggered a ripple effect across the economy.
Roads blocked, motorists turned away
Based on videos and photos circulating on social media, no private vehicles were being allowed through the affected sections, with motorists being turned back by protesters manning the barricades.
The roadblocks caused significant traffic disruption as commuters were forced to seek alternative routes or abandon travel plans altogether.
Security personnel were reported to be monitoring the situation as tensions remained high in parts of the town.
Public service vehicles grounded
Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) belonging to various sacco operators remained parked throughout the town as drivers and conductors joined the strike in solidarity with the wider transport sector, forcing residents to walk to work.
The strike has brought together matatu operators, boda boda riders, cargo transporters, and other road users under the Transport Sector Alliance, all demanding urgent action on fuel prices.
Transport operators argue that rising fuel costs have significantly increased operational expenses, forcing fare hikes that continue to burden commuters.
They further say that the cost of living has escalated sharply, with food prices, transport fares, and basic commodities all affected by fuel price adjustments.
The protests in Kitengela mirror similar disruptions reported in other parts of the country as the nationwide strike gains momentum, with sections of Thika Road also being barricaded.
The strike is expected to affect transport networks across major towns and cities, with fears of prolonged disruptions if no agreement is reached between stakeholders and the government.
The Transport Sector Alliance has maintained that the strike will continue until their demands on fuel pricing reforms are addressed.