Four killed in protests over Kenya fuel price hikes as strike strands commuters - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitwFBVV95cUxQWWx1N1g5Y1pmOUN4eUZJMG5BbWpNdHh0MEdNdFY4ZGE3TWtVRDM0S3d6Z1VrdFZYMHFDRWNocmVRUGFfT0NNcElld1JmX1JYTnZxSkk1RFFrSkF2cFg0OTc4N3dNclctTlIxNDF1UTROQjd2SlFMWHFCcFowOFktVXIxOElMXzdWX3JZY3FuZ1hydm0yWm9DVkFNNlV6M3N0OXBSNWFoMTVPak1pSkhXMnNBVmFGQU0?oc=5" target="_blank">Four killed in protests over Kenya fuel price hikes as strike strands commuters</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

Protests erupted across Nairobi, Kenya, over record fuel prices, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to over 30 others. A nationwide public transportation strike left many commuters stranded, with protesters burning tires and destroying vehicles across major roads. Police clashed with demonstrators, and witnesses claimed officers opened fire. The government arrested 348 individuals, labeling the protests as violent and illegal. Fuel prices had surged significantly—diesel by 23.5% and gasoline by 8%—a rise attributed to the Iran war’s impact on global energy supplies. Although taxes were reduced to ease the burden, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry criticized the steep domestic cost increase, stating it exceeded global price changes. Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, now in the opposition following a 2024 impeachment, blamed the rise on corrupt profiteers and compared Kenya’s fuel prices unfavorably to those in neighboring countries like Uganda. President William Ruto has not commented, as he is currently out of the country.

Four people were killed in protests against fuel price hikes prompted by the Iran war in several Kenyan towns on Monday, its interior minister said, after a nationwide public transport strike stranded commuters. The Transport Sector Alliance said on Sunday that vehicles affiliated with its member associations would stop operating from midnight in protest, while police said they would act to tackle any disruptions. "We lost four Kenyans in today's violence, which also saw more than 30 people injured," Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen told a televised press conference. Kenya's Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority last week raised retail fuel prices by as much as 23.5% - after hiking them by 24.2% last month - as the conflict in the Middle East squeezed global oil and gas supplies.

Protests erupted in Kenya’s capital Nairobi Monday as a nationwide public transport strike kicked off in protest at rising fuel prices. Commuters were stranded in various suburbs and the city center remained deserted. Drivers with private vehicles opted to stay home as protesters burned tires on major roads. The Kenya Association of Private Schools had advised its members to assess the safety of students going to school, and most schools opted for online learning. Kenya’s fuel prices hit a record high on Friday with the diesel price increasing by 23.5% and gasoline by 8%.

At least four people have been killed during nationwide transport protests in Kenya, the interior minister has confirmed, as anger over rising fuel prices paralysed major cities and exposed deep economic strain. The unrest erupted on Monday when public transport operators went on strike, forcing "matatu" minibuses off the roads and leaving thousands of commuters stranded. Protesters blocked highways, lit bonfires on major roads, and attempted to halt private vehicles and motorbike taxis in several cities, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Nyeri. The government-linked strike was triggered by sharp fuel price increases, including a 23.5 percent rise in diesel, which authorities say was driven by global oil shocks linked to instability in the Middle East and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials say Kenya, heavily dependent on imported fuel, has been hit hard by rising international prices.

Four people have been killed and at least 30 injured in protests linked to Kenya's nationwide transport strikes against recent increases in the cost of fuel, according to the interior minister. Thousands of commuters were left stranded, with key roads in the capital, Nairobi, largely empty as some businesses remained shut and schools asked students to stay at home. Protesters have been blocking roads and erecting burning barricades. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen added that 348 people had been arrested. 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.