City commuters stranded amid matatu dispute

Matatu operators back on the road after Monday morning strike over the rising cases of their vehicles being torched by boda boda riders in Nairobi, on February 2, 2026. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Thousands of commuters across Nairobi were stranded on Monday morning after a section of matatu operators stayed off the roads, disrupting public transport in several estates and parts of the Central Business District (CBD).

From dawn, normally busy estates, such as Kayole, Umoja, Githurai, Kasarani and Rongai experienced long queues as passengers waited for matatus that failed to operate in the early hours. In the CBD, major bus termini were largely quiet at daybreak, a sharp contrast to the usual weekday chaos of honking vehicles, touts shouting destinations, and bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Normal operations began trickling back by late morning, easing pressure on stranded commuters, although many had already arrived late or missed work altogether. “I waited from 6am to almost 9am and nothing came. By the time vehicles started returning, it was too late. I lost the day’s wages,” said Joseph Otieno, a casual worker from Utawala.

The disruption followed a strike notice issued on Friday by a faction of matatu owners protesting what they describe as the government’s failure to stop the torching of vehicles and assaults on drivers after road accidents.

Leaders allied to the Matatu Owners Association (MOA) and Mass Mobility Operators Association described the morning action as largely successful and warned that similar disruptions could occur every Monday until their grievances are addressed.

Police intimidation

MOA president Albert Karakacha said matatu owners had resorted to strikes after years of being ignored, claiming about 70 per cent participation in the action. He accused the government of deploying police to intimidate operators instead of dealing with individuals burning vehicles.

“We announced our strike and started it today. This is just the beginning. We shall carry out these strikes every Monday until our demands for a meeting with the President and a long-lasting solution are met,” Karakacha said. He added that matatu owners want impounded vehicles released, removed number plates reinstated, and arrested drivers freed.

Matatu Owners Association chairman Albert Karakacha addresses the Press in Nairobi over the matatu strike on February 2, 2026. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

The group claimed at least 20 matatus have been burned in recent months, with no arrests made, arguing that the protests are also meant to protect passengers. “If vehicles continue being burned, it is passengers who will suffer most,” Karakacha said.

Wilfred Bosire, Secretary-General of the Mass Mobility Operators Association, echoed the concerns, alleging that authorities have failed to act against those responsible. “No one has ever been arrested over a burned vehicle,” he said, accusing the state of targeting operators instead of criminals.

In contrast, the Federation of Public Transport Sector (FPTS) dismissed claims of a strike, insisting that most matatu investors heeded its call to  allow dialogue with the government and continued operating. FPTS CEO Kushian Mushirii said public transport resumed normally by mid-morning and largely continued uninterrupted in most parts of the country. “In the entire republic, there was no strike. A strike is when investors unanimously withdraw services. What happened was limited disruption by one or two companies,” he said.