Strike over high fuel prices paralyses transport in Kenya

Key roads have remained largely empty and some schools have asked students to stay at home. Kenya matatu strike over high fuel prices paralyses transport Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. The protests have been triggered by a record increase in the cost of fuel A man with a red jacket and blue jeans raises his hands near a burning tyre on a street littered with stones Strike over high fuel prices paralyses transport in Kenya Thousands of Kenyan commuters have been stranded and businesses paralysed as public transport operators went on a nationwide strike to protest against recent increases in the cost fuel. Key roads in the capital Nairobi remained largely empty, forcing some commuters to walk to work, with other parts of the country also affected by the transport crisis. Businesses in parts of Nairobi remained shut and schools asked students to stay at home. Protesters have been barricading roads and lighting fires on the roads as the protests continue. The strike comes days after the authorities raised petroleum prices to record levels, with costs increasing by more than 20%. Kenya, like many other African countries, relies heavily on fuel imports from the Gulf, a supply route disrupted by the US-Israel conflict with Iran that began on 28 February. Even though a ceasefire has been declared, fuel prices have remained high as the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world's oil passes through, is still blocked. Many passengers were stranded at bus stops in the capital in the morning. Others arriving from elsewhere to Nairobi could not get into the city. "There is no matatu anywhere... We used to pay 100 to 150 shillings, right now it's 300. Life is becoming so unbearable. So please, [President William] Ruto, wherever you are, if you can listen to us Kenyans, please lower those fuel prices," a resident of Kitengela on the outskirts of the city, who identified himself as Charles, told the Reuters news agency. The conductor of a bus carrying passengers from Tanzania said they could not get to Nairobi in the morning because of roadblocks and were stranded in Kajiado, a town about 75km (46 miles) from the city. "The bus was full. Many passengers were travelling for work and business. People are now stranded and frustrated because transport has been disrupted," he told the BBC. Authorities had warned protesters against being disruptive A protester in red shirt, black jacket and black jeans is dragged by four security officers in plain clothes on a street Abdi Suleiman, a motorist who operates in the south-eastern Kenyan border town of Taveta and sources food items from across the border in Tanzania, told the BBC that he was unable to supply them as usual since morning because of the strike. In parts of Nairobi and elsewhere across the country, police clashed with protesters, using tear gas to disperse them. This came amid reports of demonstrators stopping and harassing some motorists. Ahead of the strike, the police assured Kenyans that security measures would be in place and warned against any disruptive conduct. The association representing transport operators had earlier urged all vehicle users, including private motorists, public transport buses (locally known as matatus) and truckers, to stay off the roads as part of a coordinated shutdown. "This action is not only for transport operators, but for every Kenyan citizen," the Transport Sector Alliance (TSA) said in a statement. The alliance has accused the government of not doing enough to shield Kenyans from the rising fuel prices, amid a broader high cost-of-living crisis. It has called for the reversal of the price increases announced last week, and for fuel prices to be reduced by about 35%. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) on Thursday raised prices to a high of 242 shillings ($1.8; £1.4) a litre for diesel and petrol to $1.65. Treasury Minister John Mbadi told local NTV station on Monday that the increase in fuel prices was "unfortunate" and acknowledged that it was hurting the economy. He however said the strike was "completely uncalled for" and the government would only make decisions that are "informed and not emotional". "Why are we trying to solve a global problem using domestic means?" he asked. The high cost of fuel is being blamed for increases in the price of food and other basic goods and services, with public service vehicles already raising commuter fares. Last month, the government cut VAT on fuel from 16% to 8% until July but there have been calls for it to do more. A pump attendant, in a black sweater written Astrol fuels a car at an petrol station in Kenya Kenya fuel prices rise sharply despite reduction in tax due to Iran war A woman with long hair tied in a high pony tail, filling a dark green car with petrol at a petrol station in Nairobi, Kenya. She is standing to the side so her face is partially visible Rationing power and diluting petrol - how African countries are coping with effects of Iran war Split image shows Michelle Fleury on the left in a red top and an IMF presentation on the right. IMF: Oil prices and war could derail global growth A split image shows Michelle Fleury on the left wearing a red top and a presentation on the right. 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