By Njeri Irungu,
2 February 2026,
Nairobi, Kenya.
The Federation of Public Transport Sector (FPTS) has dismissed claims of a nationwide matatu strike, insisting that public transport operations across the country remained largely uninterrupted as dialogue with the government takes shape.
Speaking on behalf of the federation, FPTS Chief Executive Officer Kushian Muchiri thanked Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators and investors for heeding the federation’s call to remain operational and allow room for engagement rather than confrontation.
“I want to sincerely thank all PSV operators and investors for their patience and discipline. They chose dialogue over disruption,” Muchiri said, noting that the federation’s directive was fully supported by matatu investors countrywide.
Muchiri acknowledged the national government’s role in facilitating talks and reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to resolving the ongoing tensions through structured engagement. He revealed that FPTS is scheduled to meet the Cabinet Secretary and the Inspector General of Police within the next 48 hours to address rising insecurity targeting transport operators.
According to the FPTS CEO, recent incidents of road blockades, vehicle burnings and assaults were not acts of protest but criminal activities aimed at economic sabotage.
“When individuals block roads or burn vehicles, that is not a strike. A strike is a voluntary decision by vehicle owners to withdraw services. What we witnessed were criminal elements exploiting accidents and incidents to cause chaos,” Muchiri stated.
He warned that the violence posed a serious threat beyond the matatu sector, pointing out that private vehicles, road users and commuters were equally affected. “Nobody is safe when lawlessness takes over. Accidents are unpredictable, and violence only deepens losses for Kenyans already struggling under tough economic conditions,” he added.
Muchiri further dismissed reports of divisions within the transport sector, particularly claims of rifts between FPTS and the Matatu Owners Association (MOA). He clarified that MOA remains part of the federation and that the alleged fallout stemmed from individual interests rather than institutional disagreements.
“There are no cracks within FPTS. What we are seeing is one individual seeking relevance by exploiting the pain of investors. Our members migrated to other associations for well-known reasons, including ongoing court cases involving alleged fraudulent dealings,” he said, adding that the federation would not allow its membership to be used to settle personal scores.
Responding to reports that some groups had vowed to stage weekly protests, Muchiri maintained that there was no strike across the country’s 47 counties. He said normal transport operations continued nationwide, with only minor disruptions in parts of Nairobi caused by a handful of companies blocking roads.
“If there was a strike, the entire country would have come to a standstill. That did not happen. What occurred were isolated cases of traffic disruption, which the government is already addressing,” he explained.
Muchiri also emphasized the importance of collaboration with border-to-border transport operators, describing them as partners within the broader transport ecosystem. He confirmed that discussions with the group had already begun following a meeting held the previous Friday.
As talks continue, the federation reaffirmed its resolve to protect transport assets while prioritizing dialogue over violence.
“We understand the pain of losing vehicles to criminals, but we cannot afford to compound losses by shutting down operations. The government has assured us of its commitment to resolving this matter conclusively, and we are optimistic that dialogue will prevail,” Muchiri said.
