By Jeff Kizzilah Digital Editor
Tension is rising in Kenya’s public transport sector after matatu workers announced a series of hardline resolutions aimed at protecting drivers and conductors from the impact of rising fuel prices and alleged intimidation by vehicle owners.
Speaking during a workers’ meeting, leaders from the matatu workers union declared that drivers and conductors must prioritize their own earnings before remitting daily collections to vehicle owners, arguing that the current economic pressure has made it difficult for workers to survive.
Mourice Odour,Sec General (MWU) speaking during the workers meeting.
The union accused some matatu owners of exploiting workers through threats, dismissals, and unfair treatment at a time when the cost of fuel and living expenses continues to rise across the country.
According to the union, any owner found unlawfully dismissing or harassing a driver risks triggering a nationwide solidarity action from workers.
“If one driver is sacked unfairly, all drivers will stop working,” the union warned, insisting that workers are united and ready to defend one another against intimidation.
Union officials further called on the government to urgently convene a meeting involving matatu workers, owners, and relevant authorities to discuss the growing crisis in the transport sector.
They argued that the matatu industry employs thousands of Kenyans and remains one of the country’s biggest informal employers, supporting many families directly and indirectly.
The workers also demanded greater inclusivity in government discussions affecting the transport sector, saying drivers and conductors have for years been ignored despite being the backbone of daily public transport operations.
The union maintained that unless the government intervenes and listens to workers’ grievances, tensions between workers and owners could escalate further in the coming weeks.
At the center of the standoff is the rising fuel cost, which workers say has significantly reduced their daily income while increasing pressure from owners demanding unchanged remittance targets.
