TGA CEO Kennedy Kaunda Admits Missing Crucial Fuel Price Meeting That Suspended Matatu Strike

Kennedy Kaunda, CEO of the East Africa Tour Guides and Drivers Association, has revealed he was unaware of and arrived late to the second high-level meeting that produced the deal suspending the recent matatu strike over fuel prices.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s JKLive on 20 May 2026, Kaunda explained that he attended the first meeting but reached the second one after officials had already moved to final remarks. A coordinator had urgently summoned him via motorbike, but he still missed substantial portions of the discussions between transport stakeholders and senior government officials.

“I was at the first and second meeting. The second meeting, nilikuja kama nimechelewa,” Kaunda said. “They actually called me to take a motorbike ride from where I was. By the time I arrived, they were making the final remarks. I missed it.”

He added that he had been in his office and had no prior knowledge that the follow-up meeting was underway. The clarification comes days after dramatic scenes at Transcom House, where Kaunda gained public attention for openly challenging government ministers during a live press briefing.

In that earlier moment, he firmly stated there was no agreement after the government proposed a KSh10 reduction in diesel prices. This contradicted official communications and left Cabinet Secretaries visibly uncomfortable. Transport stakeholders had demanded deeper cuts, initially pushing for around KSh35 to KSh46 per litre.

The strike, which paralysed public transport nationwide and left many Kenyans walking to work, was eventually suspended for seven days to allow further negotiations. The government committed to a KSh10 diesel price cut as a goodwill gesture while broader talks continue.

Kaunda also dismissed online allegations that he received a “brown envelope” after the second meeting. He said many motorists and social media users had asked him about it, but he received nothing. What moved him, he noted, was seeing matatu owners in the room accept the partial deal.

Federation of Public Transport Sector CEO Kushian Muchiri used the interview to criticise Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, claiming this is the first time in years that a Transport Minister has failed to maintain regular engagement with stakeholders. He contrasted the current situation with previous administrations that kept open communication channels.

On the government side, EPRA Director for Petroleum and Gas Edward Kinyua defended the process, noting that three Cabinet Secretaries — Chirchir, Wandayi and Mbadi — participated in the talks as part of an inter-ministerial approach.

The developments highlight ongoing tensions in Kenya’s transport sector. While the strike has been paused, many operators remain dissatisfied with the scale of the price relief. Further negotiations are expected in the coming week, with the possibility of renewed industrial action if no broader resolution is reached.