Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has condemned the ongoing national transport paralysis, linking it directly to recent fuel price increases and what he termed as “reckless economic management” by the government.
In a statement released on May 18, 2026, Kalonzo said hundreds of thousands of Kenyans including workers, students, traders, and families have been left stranded due to a crisis that was “both foreseeable and avoidable.”
According to Kalonzo, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced on May 14, 2026, a sharp rise in fuel prices, increasing diesel by KSh 46.29 per litre and super petrol by KSh 16.65 per litre.
Kalonzo argued that the decision was implemented without public consultation or sufficient safeguards for households already burdened by the high cost of living.
Transport Strike and National Paralysis
He further stated that the move has triggered widespread disruptions in the transport sector, with operators under the Transport Sector Alliance withdrawing services in protest.
The resulting strike has paralyzed mobility across major urban and rural corridors, affecting movement from coastal towns to western Kenya and northern trade routes.
Business leaders have also raised concerns over the ripple effects of the disruption. Supply chains have been interrupted, commodity prices are rising, and commercial activity has slowed significantly.
Kalonzo noted that essential goods, including food and fuel-dependent supplies, are becoming increasingly expensive, placing additional pressure on consumers.
Call for Government Accountability and Reform
“The economic consequences are already severe. Kenyans cannot continue absorbing policy shocks that ignore their daily realities,” Kalonzo said. He accused the government of failing to prioritize public welfare in its energy pricing framework.
Kalonzo issued three key demands to address the crisis. First, he called on the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Hon. Opiyo Wandayi, to immediately reverse the fuel price adjustments and step down, arguing that accountability must follow policy failure.
Second, he urged President William Ruto to open urgent dialogue with the Transport Sector Alliance to resolve the strike and restore services.
Third, he demanded a transparent and long-term fuel pricing framework to stabilize costs and protect consumers from abrupt fluctuations.
He emphasized that the opposition, under the United Alternative Government and alongside the Wiper Patriotic Front and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya, stands with citizens affected by the crisis.
“This regime has abandoned its people, but we have not. Together, we shall Komboa Kenya,” Kalonzo stated, signaling continued political pressure as the transport standoff deepens.
