Matatu Strike Suspended as Operators Agree to Meet Authorities

Kenya’s matatu operators have suspended a planned nationwide strike to allow talks with government agencies and other transport stakeholders to proceed.

The decision was announced by the Federation of Public Transport Sector (FPTS), which said the strike scheduled for Monday, 2 February, would be put on hold to create room for structured dialogue on safety, regulation and enforcement in the transport sector. According to the federation, the consultations will include private motorists, freight and long-distance coach operators, the National Police Service and the National Transport and Safety Authority. 

The talks are intended to address persistent disputes and reduce tensions that have disrupted public transport operations in recent weeks. The strike threat followed growing frustration among Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators over what they described as inadequate government response to rising insecurity on the roads. Operators cited a series of incidents in which vehicles were set on fire by mobs after accidents involving pedestrians or boda boda riders.

At least nine vehicles, including matatus, buses, trucks and private cars, have been destroyed in incidents reported in Juja, Luanda in Vihiga County and along the Thika Superhighway. The attacks resulted in significant financial losses and disrupted transport services in the affected areas.

The Motorist Association of Kenya (MAK), which had supported the proposed strike, said the incidents reflected a breakdown in law enforcement. In a statement, the association warned that mob justice was replacing due legal process, placing drivers, passengers and bystanders at serious risk.

Government officials have said action will be taken to restore order. Nairobi Region Police Commander George Sedah told a stakeholders’ meeting that the state must demonstrate control and consistency in enforcement, adding that disorder undermines public confidence.