At least four people have been killed and more than 30 injured in Kenya as nationwide protests over record fuel price increases brought large parts of the country to a standstill. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed the deaths and said 348 people had been arrested, though he did not provide details on the circumstances of the fatalities. In the city of Meru, about 200 kilometres north of the capital Nairobi, a local police commander said one person was shot after a crowd attempted to set fire to a police station. Six police officers were also injured in the clashes.

The unrest was triggered by the government raising petroleum prices to record levels last week — diesel rose by roughly 23.5 percent, with a litre now costing 242 Kenyan shillings (about $1.80). The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority cited global oil market disruptions, particularly the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow waterway through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes — following conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran that began in late February. Kenya, like many African nations, is heavily dependent on imported fuel, leaving it especially exposed to such supply shocks. The Transport Sector Alliance, which represents public transport operators, called for a coordinated shutdown and demanded a 35 percent reduction in fuel prices, arguing the government had not done enough to protect citizens from the economic impact.

In Nairobi and other major cities including Mombasa, Nakuru, and Eldoret, matatu minibuses — the backbone of Kenya's public transport system — were kept off the roads. Protesters blocked highways with burning tyres and barricades, while police responded with tear gas. Schools asked students to stay home, businesses shut early, and roads that are normally heavily congested were largely empty. Thousands of commuters were left stranded, with bus fares reported to have doubled in some areas. "Life is becoming so unbearable. Please, President Ruto, if you can listen to us Kenyans, please lower those fuel prices," one resident on the outskirts of Nairobi told reporters.

The government defended the price rises as unavoidable, while acknowledging their severity. Treasury Minister John Mbadi called the increases "unfortunate" but described the strike as "completely uncalled for," warning that decisions would be made on evidence rather than emotion. Interior Minister Murkomen alleged the protests had been "hijacked by political actors," a claim echoed in a broader political context: former vice-president Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached on corruption grounds in 2024 and subsequently joined the opposition, blamed the price hikes on profiteering by business interests, noting that Kenya's fuel prices are higher than those of landlocked neighbouring countries that import fuel through Kenyan ports.

The Kenyan Chamber of Commerce noted that the fuel price increases are feeding through to the cost of food and other basic goods, amplifying an already acute cost-of-living crisis. Economic analysts warned that sustained disruption could cost the economy hundreds of millions of dollars. The government cut VAT on fuel from 16 to 8 percent last month, a measure valid until July, and Treasury Minister Mbadi indicated further tax relief could follow if global prices remain high — but no agreement has yet been reached with transport operators, raising the prospect that the strike could continue.