Hundreds of long-distance travellers in Eldoret were on Monday left stranded following a nationwide Matatu strike that paralysed public transport operations.
The industrial action, which took effect Monday saw matatus and buses withdraw services in protest against the recent increase in fuel prices announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Passengers who had planned to travel to various destinations expressed frustration after arriving at bus stations and booking offices only to find transport services suspended.
Virginia Musumbi, one of the stranded passengers, said she woke up early and walked to the stage only to find the Northrift offices closed and non-operational.
“I decided to wait and see whether the situation would improve later in the day because the few operators available have almost doubled the fare, which I cannot afford,” she said.
Joseph Murgor from Uasin Gishu County said he spent nearly two hours walking from his home to Eldoret town while planning to travel to Nakuru, only to find no vehicles operating.
Similarly, Peter Ochieng, who intended to travel to Elgeyo-Marakwet County, said he had remained stranded at the stage since morning; no PSV vehicle was available.
Other stranded passengers admitted they had underestimated the seriousness of the strike despite earlier notices by transport operators, saying they were now forced to postpone their journeys or seek alternative means of transport.
Hosea Lebo, a supervisor at one of the matatu booking offices in Eldoret, said the strike had negatively affected daily economic activities and urged the government to intervene urgently.
“The rising fuel prices have made transport operations difficult for both operators and passengers. We hope the government will address the matter so that normal services can resume,” he said.
As demonstrations intensified, protesters blocked sections of the Eldoret–Kitale highway at Maili Nne, where they lit bonfires and barricaded the road using stones and timber over rising fuel prices.
Transport operations along the route were disrupted, forcing public service vehicles (PSVs) to drop passengers before reaching town. Private vehicles suspected of ferrying passengers were also being stopped and inspected.
Police officers were forced to intervene and clear the roadblocks to restore traffic flow along the busy highway, which experienced major disruption for several hours.
Passengers travelling to town were forced to either walk long distances or use motorcycles whose fares had sharply increased.
The stranded travellers appealed to the government to lower fuel prices, saying the increase had disrupted transport services and pushed up the prices of food and other basic commodities.
They further called on authorities to reconsider the local fuel processing initiative, arguing that it could help stabilize supply and reduce fuel costs.
Most offices operating long-distance routes in Eldoret remained closed throughout the day, although a few operators serving short-distance routes within the town were partially operational.
The strike follows a directive issued by Matatu operators on Sunday, May 17, in response to the recent fuel price increases announced by EPRA, which saw diesel and petrol prices rise by Sh46.29 and Sh16.65, respectively.
Earlier, on May 15, the Matatu Owners Association directed operators to increase fares by up to 50 percent ahead of the planned strike.
Operators said the shutdown was intended to pressure the government into reviewing the fuel prices, warning that the rising pump costs had made public transport operations unsustainable.
By Fredrick Maritim and Becklyne Cherono
