Get you up to speed: Kenya transport strike paused after deadly protests
A nationwide transport strike in Kenya, initiated by matatu bus operators in response to rising fuel prices, has been suspended for one week following mass protests that resulted in four fatalities and over 30 injuries. Police reported that more than 700 people were arrested during the unrest on Monday.
The suspension of the strike will last for one week to allow for consultations between the government and stakeholders. During the protests on Monday, police reported over 700 arrests and four fatalities nationwide.
The Kenyan government plans consultations and negotiations regarding the suspension of the transport strike, as stated by interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen. In response to ongoing unrest, authorities reported more than 700 arrests and cautioned against further violence, while rights groups called for “maximum restraint” from security forces.
What remains unclear — The specific measures to be discussed during the upcoming consultations between the government and stakeholders are not detailed.
Kenya transport strike suspended for a week following deadly protests
A nationwide transport strike in Kenya over surging fuel prices, blamed on the United States-Israeli war on Iran, has been suspended for a week after four people were killed in mass protests against the increases.
Kenya, one of many African countries heavily reliant on fuel imports from the Gulf, has raised petrol prices by 20 percent and diesel by almost 40 percent since Iran in effect blocked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint that normally handles about a fifth of the world’s oil.
The strike was launched on Monday by transport operators, particularly the “matatu” bus operators who provide most of Kenya’s public transport, in response to the latest sharp fuel price hike.
“The strike that is going on is suspended for a period of one week to provide an avenue for consultations and negotiations between the government and stakeholders,” interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen told reporters on Tuesday.
Albert Karakacha, the president of Matatu Owners Association, confirmed the suspension.
Authorities said four people were killed and more than 30 were injured nationwide on Monday. Police said on Tuesday that more than 700 people had been arrested in connection with the protests over fuel price increases.
Rights groups condemned the use of lethal force by security forces, with Amnesty International calling for “maximum restraint”.
The unrest also disrupted Kenya’s main trade corridor, with local media reporting that truck drivers had refused to move cargo amid fears their vehicles could be attacked and set alight by demonstrators.
The national energy regulator said last week the government had spent $38.5m to cushion consumers from rising diesel and kerosene costs.
In a further emergency measure, Kenyan authorities last month temporarily suspended fuel quality standards in a bid to maintain supplies amid growing shortages.
Despite being one of East Africa’s most dynamic economies, Kenya still has deep structural inequalities: about a third of its roughly 50 million people live in poverty and unemployment remains high.
In pictures
A riot police officer fires at protesters during a strike by public transport operators driven by rising fuel costs, in Githurai area of Nairobi. [Monicah Mwangi/Reuters]
The strike was launched on Monday by transport operators in response to the latest sharp fuel price hike. [Monicah Mwangi/Reuters]
Kenyan police use tear gas to disperse protesters during the second day of protests in Githurai, Nairobi. [Daniel Irungu/EPA]
Kenyan police detain protesters in Githurai. [Daniel Irungu/EPA]
Rights groups condemned the use of lethal force by security forces. [Daniel Irungu/EPA]
Police said on Tuesday that more than 700 people had been arrested in connection with the violent protests. [Daniel Irungu/EPA] Advertisement 
A motorcycle taxi rides through coloured tear gas as riot police disperse protesters. [Monicah Mwangi/Reuters]