Matatu operators have announced fresh nationwide demonstrations set for Monday, February 9, accusing the government of failing to curb rising cases of violence and disorder linked to boda boda operators.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday, #Matatu Owners Association (MOA) President Albert Karagacha said the operators would not call off the protests unless President William Ruto agrees to personally engage with them over their security concerns.
Karagacha warned that the industrial action would be repeated every Monday until their grievances are addressed. He apologised to commuters for the inconvenience, noting that the protests were intended to protect both passengers and operators.
“We regret the disruption this will cause, but we are fighting for the safety of everyone on our roads. When a matatu is torched with passengers inside, lives are lost,” he said. “Without dialogue, these protests will continue weekly.”
The operators insist that direct talks with the Head of State are crucial to developing effective security measures, preventing destruction of property, and improving road safety nationwide.
The renewed protests follow a nationwide strike announced on January 28, sparked by what operators describe as persistent hostility and attacks against public service vehicles (PSVs). PSV owners also criticised police for allegedly arresting drivers and impounding vehicles after the protests, while taking little action against those responsible for burning matatus.
One operator claimed the initial strike was largely successful. “We have achieved about 70 per cent of our objective. This is just the start. There hasn’t been a public transport strike in over a decade, and we will continue until we are heard,” he said.
On Monday, traffic chaos was reported after matatus blocked major roads including Thika Superhighway, Waiyaki Way, and key routes within Nairobi’s central business district. Police were deployed to restore order, towing vehicles and removing number plates from matatus used to barricade roads.
Earlier, the Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) had indicated that transport workers, private motorists, and truck drivers would join the strike in solidarity with matatu operators. However, this contradicted a separate statement by the Federation of Public Transport Sector (FPTS), which announced the suspension of the strike after expressing readiness to engage government stakeholders.
MAK reported that at least nine vehicles – including matatus, buses, trucks, and private cars – have been set ablaze by mobs following road incidents involving pedestrians or boda boda riders in areas such as Juja, Luanda in Vihiga County, and along Thika Superhighway.
“These incidents result in losses worth millions of shillings, wipe out years of investment in minutes, and place the lives of passengers, drivers, and bystanders at grave risk,” the association said.