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Murkomen announces temporary suspension of matatu strike
19th May, 2026 01:06 PM
The nationwide matatu strike that had paralysed public transport across Kenya for two days has been temporarily suspended to allow for high-level negotiations between the government and transport stakeholders.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced the agreement after a consultative meeting held on Tuesday, May 18, 2026, stating that both parties had agreed to engage in structured talks within the next seven days.
“The strike that is ongoing is suspended for a period of one week to provide an avenue for consultation and negotiation between the government and the stakeholders,” Murkomen said.
The suspension takes immediate effect and will run until Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Matatu sector representatives strongly condemned the violence and destruction witnessed on the first day of the strike, distancing themselves from incidents that involved blocked roads, burning tyres, and clashes in several parts of the country.
Speaking during the press briefing, Kushan Mushiri, CEO of the Federation of Public Transport Sectors (FPTS) and National Chairman of the Association of Matatu Transport Owners (AMTO), apologised to Kenyans affected by the disruption.
“We apologise to our customers who have been inconvenienced. We have had serious consultations, and today we have had a breakthrough. We are giving negotiations a chance,” Mushiri said.
He warned, however, that if the negotiations do not yield meaningful results within the seven-day window, the strike will resume.
“We are giving these negotiations a chance, but let me be very clear: if meaningful results are not achieved within the next seven days, the strike will resume immediately,” warned Kushan Mushiri, National Chairman of the Association of Matatu Transport Owners (AMTO) and CEO of the Federation of Public Transport Sectors (FPTS).
The strike began on Monday, May 18, 2026, following a sharp increase in fuel prices. It was marked by widespread chaos and destruction in several parts of the country.
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William Muthama
William Muthama is a digital journalist with a focus on entertainment, human interest, and current affairs. Share stories: [email protected]/ [email protected]
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