By Bonface Mulyungi

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has urged transport operators to avoid industrial action over rising fuel prices, saying the sector previously handled similar challenges under former President Uhuru Kenyatta without resorting to strikes or disruptions of services.

Murkomen said the current fuel price pressures were not unique to the administration of former President Uhuru and should be addressed through dialogue rather than withdrawal of services.

He argued that during past fuel price increases, he personally opposed government decisions while serving as a senator but did so through parliamentary channels instead of street protests or transport shutdowns.

“When I was in the Senate in the last administration, I was a very serious critic of the way the oil prices were being handled by the government. You should give us credit that no life was lost; we never organised a protest,” Murkomen said.

He added that the earlier period of agitation over fuel prices did not result in loss of life, strikes by public transport operators, or disruption of essential services.

Murkomen contrasted that period with the current situation, questioning why transport operators had opted to suspend operations under the present administration.

“The leaders of the matatu industry at that point in time never protested against the government. You should ask yourselves why did they feel that it was okay to understand Uhuru Kenyatta, but when it is President Ruto, they should go to the streets,” Murkomen said.

He further suggested that there was inconsistency in how different administrations are treated by industry stakeholders, arguing that the same approach used in the past should be applied today.

“Why did they not stop their vehicles just less than four years ago?” he posed.

“And why is it that in the administration of President William Ruto, they have stopped their vehicles from coming to the streets?”

Murkomen maintained that the government remains open to engagement with transport operators, urging them to pursue constitutional and negotiated solutions to the fuel price challenge.

He said the administration deserved recognition for allowing criticism while maintaining public order and encouraged stakeholders to avoid actions that disrupt livelihoods and the economy.

The Cabinet Secretary also linked the violence to broader political tensions, accusing sections of the political class of inciting intolerance and targeting opponents through inflammatory rhetoric.

Murkomen added that security agencies had been directed to intensify operations against those responsible for the unrest, warning that the full force of the law would be applied.

“The full force of law will be brought to bear on the organisers of today’s violence and wanton destruction of property. In fact, about 348 perpetrators have already been arrested.”

“To the leaders who have been profiling Kenyans of different political opinions and calling them traitors, we shall hold you personally responsible for the lives lost,” he said.