Motorists Association of Kenya have joined matatu operators in a nationwide strike beginning February 2, citing repeated incidents of vehicles being set ablaze and what they described as a weak government response.
The move signals a deepening transport crisis as operators demand urgent government action to restore order.
Empty or near-empty Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) have already been spotted along key Nairobi routes including Kenyatta Avenue and Ngong Road, with visibly fewer passengers and reduced traffic heading into the Central Business District (CBD).
Despite the disruption, some PSVs continue operating on Ngong Road and Argwings Kodhek Road, though at much reduced frequency.
At Nairobi’s KENCOM stage, buses from City Shuttle and Kenya Bus Services maintain normal operations, providing limited relief to stranded commuters struggling to access transport into the city.
The strike forms part of a broader demonstration by PSV operators across the CBD demanding government action against mob justice attacks on matatus involved in road accidents.
The operators argue that the rising violence is driving their decision to withhold services, leaving many commuters stranded.
The Motorists Association of Kenya, representing transport workers, private vehicle owners, truck drivers, and transport companies, issued the nationwide strike notice after authorities failed to address transport operators' demands during a press briefing earlier in the week.
Industry players warn that Monday’s shutdown could escalate into a wider protest if urgent steps are not taken to restore order on Kenya’s roads.
Operators report that at least nine vehicles, including matatus, buses, trucks, and private cars, have been burned by mobs within a month, severely impacting livelihoods and public safety.
Several of these violent incidents followed road accidents involving pedestrians or boda boda riders in areas such as Juja, Luanda in Vihiga County, and along the Thika Superhighway.
One recent attack saw a Toyota Harrier set ablaze after it allegedly knocked down and killed a boda boda rider along Thika Road at Kimbo in Kiambu County.
Transporters emphasise the magnitude of losses sustained due to these attacks, stating they have caused losses worth millions of shillings, destroyed livelihoods, and exposed passengers, drivers, and bystanders to danger.
They also argue that failure to arrest and prosecute perpetrators has fueled further attacks by riders, worsening the situation.
The operators further warn that mob justice is increasingly replacing legal processes, creating fear among motorists and weakening public trust in law enforcement agencies responsible for maintaining order.
The Matatu Owners Association and PSV operators first announced the strike on January 28, criticising the government for neglecting their safety despite the sector being among the country’s top taxpayers.
Operators highlighted that many matatus are uninsured and rely on government protection, which remains inadequate.
They emphasised that although they continue paying taxes and fuel levies that fund road maintenance and public services, their businesses remain vulnerable to destruction from violence and arson attacks.
As frustrations mount, operators have cautioned that patience across the sector is running out, accusing the authorities of failing to make meaningful arrests following recent vehicle torching incidents.
