You have betrayed us, matatu owners tell Ruto over fuel prices

Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi and Matatu Owners Association Chairman Albert Karakacha after a meeting with President Ruto at State House, Mombasa on May 22. [File, Standard]

Matatu owners now claim President William Ruto has failed to honour an agreement they entered into in May this year regarding fuel hikes in the country.

Their response comes following the latest review that has pushed the fuel prices upwards by Sh9, Sh12, and Sh28 for petrol, diesel and kerosene, respectively.

Led by Matatu Owners Association Chairman Albert Karakacha, the operators' latest adjustment comes as a shocker and betrayal to struggling Kenyans.

"We agreed with the president in Mombasa that the diesel will not increase because without diesel many things will not run,” Karakacha said.

Adding, “Our appeal to the president is that he should do what we agreed in Mombasa because we know very well we pay loans and when the fuel prices go up the burden is pushed to Kenyans. Like now, we have been forced to adjust the fares upwards by 10 per cent,”

According to the operators, during the meeting with the President in Mombasa, it was also agreed that the government would assist matatu investors to import about 100,000 electric buses in 90 days but this has not been met.

They also claim that the State had agreed to force insurance companies to pay claims and that auctioneers will not be allowed to repossess a vehicle over loan repayment, among other issues.

"All the other promises on electric vehicles to remove duty have not been done. We were told that duty on electric vehicles, batteries and charging infrastructure would be removed to encourage transition and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Nothing has happened?" Karakacha posed

Adding, “We are businessmen; we will pass it on to the consumer. We cannot be the ones cushioning the expenses while making losses. We are making the common Mwananchi cushion the expenses and that is not right, but we have been pushed to the wall," Karakacha declared.

In the latest review, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) said fuel prices have risen sharply due to a surge in international petroleum costs.

Fuel price hikes push up fares, leaving Kenyans to bear the burden. [File, Standard]

EPRA Director General Edward Kinyua said the average landing cost of super petrol rose by 11.81 per cent from $874.26 per cubic metre in August 2026 to $977.55 in September, while diesel costs increased by 11.2 per cent.

Mass Mobility Operators Association, a rival group, equally shifted the blame to the Head of State, citing that he had made a promise that he would try not to increase the fuel prices and use whatever mechanism he could manage to maintain the fuel prices.

The Association also differed with Matatu Owners Association over the sudden fare hikes, citing that it was unfair in a market that is already saturated by matatus.

“It is a big challenge to our business as operators because what we are providing is a service that a government should be providing. We have been squeezed beyond means and the fact is this: there's nothing we can do,” Wilfred Bosire, the Association's Secretary General, stated

He added, “So in terms of increasing fares to a population that is not moving nowadays because of the difficulty in the economy is a big challenge.”

Bosire also explained that, at the moment, going on strike is not an option, citing that several vehicles are on loan.

“Whoever controls how he charges fares is a conductor. And a conductor can calculate how he can be able to make money to meet the targets of the vehicle. So in terms of commuter services, fare hiking, that is not here nor there,” he added

A spot check by The Standard established that some matatus had hiked the fares by up to Sh100, mostly during the rush hours.

“I paid an extra Sh100 from Ngong to the city centre. Normally, I commute from Kajiado to Kitengela, then take another matatu from there to the city centre but after the fuel went up, the fare has doubled,” Elisha Mutua shared

“I usually come to pick some materials for my business almost daily, but I may be forced to think of other means of survival because commuting is eating into my little profit that I make,” he added

Some vegetable dealers who buy their supplies every morning from Wakulima market said that, owing to high fares, the cost will now go to the customers.

“I stay along Kangundo Road, where we used to pay Sh70 to Wakulima Market but the fares now range between Sh100 and Sh120 in the morning. The prices of vegetables have also gone up,” Elizabeth Mwangi, a trader, explained

“If everyone increases the prices, then it means the prices of vegetables in the estate must go up. What the leaders forget when they increase fuel prices is that it affects some of us who survive hand to mouth,” she added

Boda-boda operators have said the fuel prices have forced them to adjust their fares since they are among the largest consumers of petrol.

“People forget that we are not feeling the pinch; a slight increase means we must also adjust the fares upwards,” said Moses Musumba, a member of the City riders’ association.

“The government should also waive taxes for us to import electric motorcycles, because if the prices of fuel continue rising, no one will be spared,” he appealed.