Lady Bee calls for divine intervention amid fuel hike protests
By Valerian Khakayi, May 18, 2026Veteran gospel singer and minister Bernice Nduku, widely known as Lady Bee, has called for divine intervention amid ongoing fuel hike protests that have seen many Kenyans forced to walk long distances due to transport disruptions and rising economic pressure.
In an emotional message shared online on Monday, May 18, 2026, Lady Bee expressed her pain over the struggles many citizens are currently facing, saying her heart was heavy after witnessing the suffering of ordinary Kenyans.
“Hmmmm… today my heart is heavy. Seeing many Kenyans forced to walk long distances is truly heartbreaking,” Lady Bee wrote.
She went on to pray for the country, asking God to show mercy and provide for struggling families affected by the tough economic times.
“Lord, arise and have mercy on our nation. May You intervene for Kenya, provide for Your people, and make a way where there seems to be no way,” she added.
Lady Bee also urged Kenyans not to lose hope, praying for healing and restoration in the nation.
“God, remember Kenya. Heal our land and restore hope again. ❤️🇰🇪 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12), Lady Bee wrote.
Matatu’s strike
Lady Bee’s prayer comes as Kenyans across several parts of the country woke up today to a familiar but always disruptive sound in the city’s transport ecosystem.
Commuters heading into the Central Business District and surrounding areas were met with mixed signals as the nationwide transport sector strike called by matatu operators and allied stakeholders took effect this morning, threatening to paralyse movement across Kenya’s busiest urban routes.
The strike, which has been announced under the umbrella of the Transport Sector Alliance, brings together multiple players in the public transport ecosystem, including matatu owners, boda boda associations, taxi operators, and freight transport stakeholders.
The alliance confirmed that the industrial action would begin at midnight on Monday, May 18, 2026, effectively grounding most public service vehicles across the country.
The Matatu Owners Association (MOA), led by chairman Albert Karakacha, has been at the centre of the announcement, pointing directly to rising fuel costs as the main trigger for the shutdown. In a widely circulated statement, Karakacha said operators had been pushed to the brink by what they describe as “unbearable operational costs,” especially following the latest fuel price adjustment by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
“All transport network companies… are going to increase prices by 50% because we don’t have the mechanism. There will be strictly no movement of any vehicles,” he said.