By Ken Muthomi - Reporter
Kenya, May 15 ,2026 - Commuters are set to feel the pressure as matatu operators announce a 50 percent fare increase effective immediately, following a sharp rise in fuel prices outlined by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) in its May–June 2026 review.
In a statement on Friday, the Matatu Owners Association chairman, Albert Karakacha, said that the recent fuel review, which increased the price of super petrol by Ksh16 and diesel by Ksh16, will significantly affect the operators’ daily earnings.
Karakacha has further announced that motorists across the country will hold a nationwide protest on Monday to protest the increased fuel prices.
According to Karakacha, the fares will remain high, and the protests shall continue until the government lowers the price of fuel. All matatus across the country have been directed to implement the new changes immediately.
“On Monday, there will be strictly no movement of any vehicles. All the roads will be blocked until the government listens to our cry because we had been promised, but the promises did not come to fruition,” said Albert Karakacha.
“We are also urging all our investors in the public transport sector that, effective immediately, we are increasing our fares by 50 per cent.”
EPRA announced a sharp increase in fuel prices for the next month, on Thursday, attributing it to the rising global petroleum costs.
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According to its latest review, EPRA said that motorists in Nairobi will now pay a maximum of KSh214.25 for a litre of petrol and KSh242.92 for diesel, while kerosene will continue retailing at KSh152.78 per litre.
The regulator claims that the average landed cost of imported Super Petrol rose by 10 per cent between March and April 2026, increasing from US$823.87 to US$906.23 per cubic metre, while Diesel also jumped from from US$1,073.82 to US$1,291.98 per cubic metre during the same period.
The new prices have triggered widespread public backlash, with some public figures, including renowned comedian and activist Eric Omondi, staging protests by dragging empty yellow jerrycans along busy roads such as Jogoo Road to highlight the burden of rising fuel costs.
However, the Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has assured that the government is laying out the necessary strategies to ensure that Kenyans are cushioned against the full impact of the growing instability in the global oil market due to the conflict in the Middle East.