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Police put out a bonfire in Kakamega town which was lit by protesters who were protesting against the high cost of fuel on May 18,2026. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]
Kenya finds itself embroiled in yet another dispute that yields little more than a Pyrrhic victory: The strike in the transport sector in response to the recent increase in fuel prices. The grievance is understandable: Petroleum prices have climbed to unprecedented levels, exerting acute pressure on businesses and households alike.
Yet these are far from ordinary times. The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global energy supply chains, constraining the flow of petroleum products not only to Kenya but to nearly a fifth of the world market.
In such circumstances, striking over a problem largely beyond the government’s control may provide a measure of public catharsis, but it is unlikely to achieve the desired end: lower prices at the pump.
