Kenya public transport nationwide suspended strike

Kenya’s public transport operators on Friday called off a nationwide strike that had been suspended for a week to allow talks over rising fuel prices.  The strike on Monday and Tuesday triggered protests in which four people were killed and more than 30 others injured after police fired live ammunition at demonstrators.

The operators met with President William Ruto on Friday and announced the strike would not resume after he pledged that diesel prices would be reduced in the upcoming monthly fuel price review in June.

Ruto rejected proposals to lower fuel taxes, arguing that reducing VAT on fuel from 16 to 8 per cent had already caused significant revenue losses and that any further cuts would undermine delivery of Government services.

Earlier in the week, thousands of protesters took to the streets, burning tires on major highways and blocking private vehicles from using the roads. Businesses and schools remained closed as initial negotiations between the Government and transport operators failed.