Matatu owners have responded to a viral notice on staging a countrywide strike to protest the increase in fuel prices.

Jamal Marlow Rohosafi, Chairman of the Association of Matatu Operators, dispelled the claims disowning the content of the viral notice on planned demonstration.

“There is no demonstration,” Jamal said.

The notice shared widely on different social media platforms indicated that the strike was to begin on Thursday, September 16 at 12 noon. The notice further added that the operators will demonstrate parking their vehicles along Thika Road.

“This is to notify all motorists that tomorrow, Thursday 16th September from 12.00 noon, we shall hold a countrywide demonstration regarding the rise in petrol price,” read the notice in part.

“Please note that all matatus and buses will be parked along Thika Road for as long as the government will not act on the above matter. All travelers are therefore advised to postpone their traveling. Matatus and buses in Nairobi will not be operational until communicated,” it further read.

But according to Branden Marshall, a top official of the matatus SACCOs and Public Service Vehicles (PSV), who also spoke to the media, if at any point the public service vehicles (PSV) are to go on strike, then it has to begin as early as 5am.

He added that the matatu industry cannot afford to stage a go-slow right now as they were just recently allowed to embark on carrying full capacity.

The industry, according to Branden, is still recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We also cannot strike as we have been allowed to carry at full capacity recently. So we are recovering the losses we made during the pandemic.”

On fare hike, Jamal had shared on social media page on Wednesday, September 15, indicating the industry is mulling plans of increasing the charges.

“From tomorrow we will increase our fare due to fuel hike. kindly bear with us,” the post read in part. 

This follows the increase in fuel prices as announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA)  on Tuesday, September 14.

The retail prices for petrol increased by Ksh7.58 per liter to retail at Ksh134.72 in Nairobi while diesel increased by Ksh7.94 to retail at Ksh115.

Kerosene, on the other hand, had increased by Ksh12.97 to retail at Ksh110.2.