Kenya transport strike halted after Ruto promises diesel price cut

NAIROBI, Kenya — Public transport groups in Kenya said Friday they would not restart a nationwide work stoppage that had been put on hold for a week while talks continued over higher fuel costs.

The action on Monday and Tuesday led to street protests in which four people died and more than 30 were hurt after police shot live rounds at demonstrators.

After meeting President William Ruto on Friday, the transport operators said the strike was over, citing his commitment to cut diesel prices when the next monthly fuel review is carried out in June.

Ruto turned down calls for fuel-tax reductions. He said the earlier drop in VAT on fuel from 16 per cent to 8 per cent had already sharply reduced state income, and that deeper tax cuts would hurt the government’s ability to provide services.

Earlier in the week, thousands of people demonstrated, setting tyres alight on key highways and stopping private motorists from travelling on the roads. Schools and businesses stayed shut as the first round of talks between the state and transport operators broke down.

The strike was paused on Tuesday so the government and fuel-industry stakeholders could continue discussions.

Ruto, who was overseas while the strike was under way, returned on Thursday and began negotiations that produced a deal to reduce fuel prices in the next monthly review.

Kenya continues to have some of East Africa’s highest fuel prices, even though it is a major import gateway for several landlocked countries that depend on the Port of Mombasa and road links.

Opposition figures have accused corruption and what they called outsized profit margins by businesspeople of driving the high prices.