Transport operators have warned of a nationwide standstill beginning Monday, February 2, 2026, citing repeated attacks on matatus, trucks, and private cars by boda boda riders, and accusing authorities of failing to respond to the crisis.
Speaking on Wednesday, the Matatu Owners Association said rising incidents of vehicle torchings and the lack of arrests have left operators with no choice but to halt services across the country. They stressed that complaints to police and the transport ministry have largely gone unheeded.
MOA chairperson Albert Karakacha said the government’s inaction has left owners feeling vulnerable.
“Our vehicles have been burned; we talked to the police, we have written to the transport minister, and nothing has happened. From Monday, we will withdraw all vehicles from the roads until the government listens to us,” Karakacha said.
Operators said most boda boda motorcycles are uninsured, leaving matatu and vehicle owners exposed to heavy financial losses. They stressed that the transport sector is a major contributor to the government’s revenue and must be protected.
“The transport sector is a major taxpayer, and the taxes we pay sustain the government’s recurrent budget. We have no problem with the government and no issue with paying taxes. Our concern is the protection of our vehicles. No vehicle should be torched, and if any vehicle is attacked, we will have a serious issue with whoever is responsible,” they said.
Although they emphasized they are not taking the law into their own hands, the operators warned that continued inaction could trigger retaliatory measures.
“We will bring back 'boys' who have been manning our businesses because the police cannot protect us,” Karakacha said.
Joseph Kagai, chairperson of Inter-Corridor Mobility, said security agencies are failing in their duty and warned that the planned strike would paralyse movement in major towns and cities.
“We do not understand how the government is losing authority over the security and safety of our investors’ property. Today, we are here to demand one thing. From Monday, we will not just lay down our tools; we will ensure that roads maintained using money we contribute through the fuel levy are not accessible. The fuel levy comes from motor vehicle users,” Kagai said.
“From Monday, in all major towns, cities and roundabouts across the country, there will be no movement until the government addresses this issue. We have not seen any arrests, and we have not received any reports.”
He also reminded boda boda riders of earlier informal enforcement systems within the matatu industry.
“I also want to remind people that before the reformation of the matatu industry, there was something known as ‘kamjesh’. Our young people reformed, organised themselves into circles, became operators, wore uniforms and obtained licences from the government. But if the government is no longer protecting us, then anywhere a boda boda rider stops and starts stoning a matatu or a private vehicle, all vehicles there will stop and deal with them on the spot,” he said.
The transport groups also said they would demand compensation for owners whose vehicles have been damaged or destroyed. According to them, two vehicles were torched over the weekend, and at least nine others have been destroyed in the past six months with no arrests made.
“Everyone has heard that a truck was torched yesterday, a matatu was torched on Friday, and many private vehicles are being burned. Boda boda operators have become the judge, jury and executioner,” Motorists Association of Kenya chairperson Peter Murima said.
Operators said they are now seeking direct intervention from President William Ruto, arguing that all other offices have ignored their concerns.
“The only person we are going to listen to is the President because the NTSA, the CS, nobody is listening,” Karakacha said.
The warning comes amid a rising pattern of violence, with mobs and boda boda riders increasingly burning vehicles involved in accidents. Last week, a matatu was set on fire in Nairobi after the driver was accused of hitting a pedestrian and trying to flee the scene. The Forward Travellers Sacco vehicle was torched by an angry crowd along Juja Road.
In November last year, a mob of boda boda riders burned a 33-seater minibus near Mama Lucy Hospital in Embakasi Central after it reportedly knocked down a rider. The incident took place along Kangundo Road after the driver allegedly swerved to avoid another vehicle.
