Ruto holds crisis talks as fuel prices trigger public outcry

President William Ruto’s administration is scrambling to contain widespread public outrage and nationwide transport paralysis following historic fuel price hikes that drove petrol and diesel prices past the KSh 200 mark. The crisis talks come after a brutal week of transport shutdowns, youth-led street demonstrations, and a political backlash from both the opposition and members of the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition.

Summary of the May 2026 Fuel CrisisThe Price Trigger: On May 14, 2026, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) implemented a massive price revision, heavily impacted by global oil supply shocks caused by the escalating war in the Middle East. Super Petrol in Nairobi climbed to KSh 214.25 per litre, while Diesel surged to a historic high of KSh 242.92 per litre.

The Public Outcry: The astronomical rise triggered a nationwide public transport strike on Monday, May 18, led by the Transport Sector Alliance and the Matatu Owners Association. Commuters across major cities like Nairobi, Nakuru, and Mombasa were stranded, with roads barricaded by burning tyres. Fresh street protests mobilized online under the hashtag #RejectFuelPrices faced heavy police response, resulting in reported arrests and casualties.

Key Interventions and Crisis TalksTo salvage the situation and halt an impending total economic shutdown, the government activated high-level emergency meetings:Treasury and Executive Alignment: National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi initiated urgent dialogue with President Ruto and key economic ministries to find immediate intervention mechanisms.

The Kindiki-Led Mediation Team: President Ruto dispatched a specialized government team led by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to engage directly with public service vehicle (PSV) operators, manufacturers, and transport stakeholders. The goal of the meetings, which commenced on May 18, was to negotiate fare structures and establish cushion mechanisms to stop the transport strike.

Emergency Price Revision: Following a day of intense domestic paralysis, EPRA issued an emergency price schedule late on Monday evening, cutting the price of diesel by KSh 10.06 per litre down to KSh 232.86. However, to bridge the massive gap and prevent fuel adulteration, the government concurrently raised the price of Kerosene by KSh 38.60 per litre.

This adjustment has already faced strong public rejection.Bilateral Energy Sourcing: In an effort to secure cheaper fuel imports and mitigate the reliance on volatile shipping routes, President Ruto engaged in bilateral talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to reinforce alternative oil and gas supplies.