TEAR GAS: As Police Clash With Protesters As Matatu Strike Paralyses Nairobi & Thika Road

Added: 2026-05-18

[00:00:04]Kenya woke up to deserted roads, closed businesses, stranded commuters, and running battles between police and protesters as the national mat strike over rising field prices officially began. By dawn on Monday morning, the effects of the industrial action already visible across Nairobi and several counties. Normally busy roads were unusually quiet. Met terminina remained empty and thousands of commuters struggled to find transport to work and school. But beyond the transport paralysis, the biggest scenes unfolded along Thicker Road and the key entry points into Nairobi where police engaged groups of protesters attempting to block roads and distract movement at Kihunguru along the Ruri Bipas and riot police clashed with protesters as tensions escalated early in the morning.

[00:01:11]Protesters elite fires and attempted to barricade sections of the road while chanting against the latest increase in petrol and diesel prices. Police responded by firing tear gas canisters to disperse the crowds as motorists watched from a distance. The standoff created massive tension in the area with movement temporarily disrupted as officers struggled to clear the roads.

[00:01:43]Protest were part of the larger national action dubbed reject fuel prices organized by major transport stakeholders who accused the government of pushing operators and ordinary Kenyans to the edge through repeated fuel prize hikes. The strike officially took effect at midnight on Monday, May 18th after transport operators followed through on earlier threats to paralyze movement within Nairobi and its surrounding areas. By 5:00 a.m. hundreds of commuters already stranded at bus stops across the city. Many waited for hours hoping to find a mat, but only a handful of public service vehicle were visible on the roads.

[00:02:24]Some drivers who attempted to operate early in the morning later announced they will stop working after completing a single trip due to fear of confrontation and pressure from fellow operators participating IN THE STRIKE.

[00:02:56]INDUSTRIAL ACTION brought together a wide range of transport sector groups.

[00:03:00]Among those involved with the Matato owners association, the rig owners association, motorist association of Kenya, Association of Matu Transport Owners, Digital Border Border Riders and Deliveries Association, the Truckers Association of Kenya, Digital Taxi Association of Kenya and Tour Guide Association, the Association of Bus Operators and several commuter welfare groups. As the morning progressed, the situation along thicker road became even more chaotic. In Gidai, transport was severely disrupted as sections of the road became inaccessible. Motorist traveling toward Roy [ __ ] were reportedly forced to drive on the wrong side of the road after protesters blocked sections of the highway. Several private motorists were turned back by groups of protesters around Roy Sambu, creating confusion and heavy traffic snalaps. In nearby Kimbo, civilians erected makeshift barricades aimed at preventing private vehicles from accessing parts of the road network.

[00:04:04]Tires, stones, and other materials were placed across the roads as protesters attempted to reinforce the strike. The most intense confrontations were reported in Wuia where police were forced to lob tears at groups of irate youth who had barricaded sections of the highway. Witnesses described tense moments as clouds of tears engulfed parts of the area while protesters cuted into nearby estates and roadside businesses. Police moved in to clear the road as traffic remained almost non-existent. Despite the visible disruptions and confrontations, the National Police Service maintained that the strike was minimal and urged Kenyans to continue their daily routines.

[00:04:47]However, the reality on the ground painted a different picture. As of 8:00 a.m., only private vehicles could be seen along major stretches of thicker road. Matas were almost completely absent, leaving commuters stranded and forcing many to walk long distances.

[00:05:02]Inside Nairobi CBD, the effects of the strike were equally visible. Several businesses remain closed throughout the morning amid fears that protest could spread deeper into the city center. At the CBD bus station, one of the busiest transport hubs in the country. The usual noise and congestion were replaced by silence. No matus were visible at several terminina while businesses operating around the stations either or remain shut altogether. Traders and workers arriving in the city were met with uncertaintity as police patrols increased around strategic locations.

[00:05:38]The transport paralysis was not limited to Nairobi alone. In Kitui County, transport operations were severely disrupted as residents protested the increase in fuel prices. The public transport became difficult to access affecting businesses, workers, and students across the county. Similar scenes were reported in Moranga County where major bus terminals remained sighted for hours as transport operations to and from the county ground to halt on the outskirts of Nairobi including Nasha. Mu Tamina and transport officers also remain deserted as operators join the national strike. The protest have once again highlighted the growing frustration among transport operators and ordinary Kenyans over the rising cost of living.

[00:06:25]8% road maintenance 25 shillings.

[00:06:50]Exactly.

[00:06:53]Transport stakeholders argue that the repeated increase in fuel prices has made operations unsustainable. They say the rising cost of petrol and diesel continues to affect fairs, business operations and household budgets across the country. For commuters, the strike exposed just how dependent many urban centers are on public transport systems.

[00:07:16]Thousands were left stranded with limited alternatives. While businesses lost crucial working hours due to delays and absentism as police continued patrolling key roads and dispassing protesters throughout the day, uncertaintity remained over how long the strike and demonstrations will continue.

[00:07:34]What began as protest against fuel prices quickly transformed into one of the most significant transport disruptions witnessed in recent months.

[00:07:42]The confrontation between protesters and police dominating major highways and urban centers across the country. And with tension still high, many Kenyans are now waiting to see whether the government and transport stakeholders will find common ground or whether the national protest will escalate even further in coming days. Newsroom. Masha TV.