By Bonface Mulyungi

The Truckers Association of Kenya has joined matatu operators in threatening a nationwide strike beginning Monday over the sharp rise in fuel prices.

General, Dennis Kilia, warned that truck drivers and transporters will completely down their tools if the government fails to reduce fuel prices before the start of the week.

“We are not happy with the fuel increment,” Kilia said.

“In short, we are telling the government if they will not reduce the prices by Monday, we will tell our members to down their tools completely.”

He warned that no truck would be allowed on Kenyan roads if the government ignores their demands.

“No truck will be on the road. Keep your truck parked if the fuel will not be reduced by Monday,” he said.

“We will have a total lockdown in the entire country.”

Kilia said the high fuel prices were hurting both transporters and ordinary Kenyans struggling with the rising cost of living.

“The prices affect us and the common man, who has no means to sustain themselves,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the association, Kilia said the organisation represents more than 20,000 members operating about 40,000 trucks across the country.

“I speak on behalf of 20,000 members of the TAK, with 40,000 trucks,” he stated.

“On Monday all transporters in Kenya, from Mombasa to Busia, Mandera to Isebania, no trucks will be on the road until the government listens to us.”

He noted that the transport sector is critical to the country’s economy and urged the government to urgently address their grievances.

“The transport sector is key to the economy and the government must heed to our grievances,” Kilia said.

“We have decided to stand with the ordinary Kenyan.”

Kilia also dismissed suggestions that the fuel price increase was solely due to tensions in the Middle East, saying the government should explore alternatives to cushion citizens from the impact of global crises.

“If the Iran war, there are ways the government can go around it. They should not be telling us it is because of the conflict in the Middle East,” he added.

The truckers’ announcement comes barely hours after matatu operators also declared a nationwide strike and a 50 per cent fare increase in protest against the latest fuel price review.

The Matatu Owners Association, led by chairman Albert Karakacha, said the public transport sector could no longer absorb the soaring operational costs.

“On Monday, there will be strictly no movement of any vehicles; all the roads will be blocked until the government listens to our cry because we have been promised, but everything we are promised has not come to fulfilment,” Karakacha said.

The association also directed public transport operators to immediately increase fares by 50 per cent.