Matatu operators have escalated their standoff with the government, announcing plans for a weekly protest that will see public transport disrupted every Monday until their demands are addressed.
Matatu Owners Association chairman Albert Karakacha said the industry has settled on a sustained go-slow as a pressure tactic, warning that the action will continue indefinitely if talks are not initiated.
“Every Monday we will be on the road. If by next week there are no negotiations, we will still proceed until our issues are resolved,” Karakacha said during a media interview. He apologised to commuters for the inconvenience, insisting the protest is meant to protect both operators and passengers. “We are sorry to our customers, but this fight is also about their rights,” he added.
Karakacha made it clear that the association will not engage the Transport Cabinet Secretary, Davis Chirchir, saying their grievances can only be addressed at the highest level of government. According to him, the matatu sector wants a direct audience with President William Ruto.
“We are only ready to talk to the President, not the CS. The President assured Kenyans that their lives and property would be protected, and that is what we are demanding,” he said.
The announcement came amid widespread disruption in Nairobi, where police officers were deployed in large numbers to major junctions and matatu stages as operators slowed or halted services. Waiyaki Way, particularly around Westlands, was among the hardest-hit routes, with traffic grinding to a near standstill.
Motorists attempting to escape the gridlock resorted to using wrong lanes and unauthorised diversions, worsening the congestion. Within hours, overlapping vehicles blocked key intersections, paralysing movement in both directions and leaving commuters stranded for long periods.
