Kenya Fuel Strike Ends After Govt Talks

Transport operators have announced the decision after closed-door talks with President William Ruto, saying the government had agreed to address grievances, including insurance claims, auctioneering practices, and fuel-related operating costs.

Nairobi returned to normal after a two-day matatu strike paralysed transport and disrupted business activities across the country.

Authorities have reported improved traffic flow and reduced tensions in major towns, although isolated confrontations between protesters and police were still ongoing in some areas.

A protest sparked by rising fuel costs escalated into running battles between police and demonstrators, plunging one of Nairobi's busiest highways into chaos. Plumes of smoke billowed across the carriageway as protesters burned tires and barricaded sections of the Thika Superhighway, which connects the capital's central business district to the industrial hub of Thika.

Public service vehicles and private motorists were forced to turn back or abandon their journeys altogether. Thousands of stranded commuters filled Nairobi's major roads as a nationwide transport strike crippled matatu and bus operations, effectively turning large parts of the capital into a "walking city."

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has warned that the fuel price hikes could significantly raise transport and logistics expenses, ultimately driving up the cost of essential goods.

A private car engulfed in flames along Thika Road after protests over fuel escalated, with thick smoke billowing as running battles disrupted traffic and brought movement on the busy highway to a standstill.

InFocus

Authorities reported improved traffic flow and reduced tensions in major towns, although isolated confrontations between protesters and police were still recorded in some areas

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