President William Ruto has dismissed claims that the government influenced transport sector leaders to call off the nationwide matatu strike that had been planned over rising fuel prices.

Speaking during the 23rd Annual National Prayer Breakfast held at the Safari Park Hotel on Thursday May 28, 2026, Ruto said the decision to suspend the strike was reached after he held lengthy discussions with transport sector representatives in Mombasa and explained the government’s handling of the fuel crisis.

“I had an opportunity to meet with our transport sector leaders last week on the fuel crisis and I sat down with them for about three hours in Mombasa and I explained to them what the issues are,” Ruto said.

The President said he reminded the sector players about the fuel shortages experienced in 2022 and warned against repeating past mistakes linked to heavy subsidies.

“I took them back to 2022 when we had a similar issue. Then we had long queues, people with jerricans looking for fuel from one station to another. We had a serious crash on our dollars,” he stated.

Ruto said he explained to them the government had inherited a major fuel subsidy burden after taking office and had since adopted what he termed a more sustainable approach.

“For a whole year we had to pay close to KSh150 to KSh160 billion that had been used for subsidies with that fuel and I told them we must be students of history and experience. We don’t want to repeat mistakes,” he said.

The Head of State added he told the transport operators that Kenya had managed to maintain a stable fuel supply despite global pressures affecting fuel markets.

“I explained to them that today we have fuel in all our petrol stations, unlike other countries. Today the Kenyan government is subsidising fuel. The actual price of diesel should be KSh273; it is KSh232. We’re subsidising over KSh40 for every litre,” he said.

According to Ruto, the government has spent KSh28 billion in the last two months to cushion consumers from higher fuel costs.

He denied accusations that transport leaders were bribed or pressured into abandoning the industrial action.

“When I finished they told me, ‘Mr President, we’re going to call off the strike.’ I did not tell them to call off the strike, they looked at facts,” Ruto stated.

“I know many people say they were influenced this way and maybe they were by facts of what the situation is,” he added.

The President further said the meeting ended with transport leaders asking him to pray with them.

“The most interesting part is that when we finished and we stood up they told me, ‘Mr President pray,’ and I prayed,” he said.

The nationwide matatu strike had been called over soaring fuel prices before being suspended on May 22 following talks between government officials and transport sector representatives in Mombasa.

The suspension of the strike sparked mixed reactions, with some drivers, conductors and members of the public alleging transport sector leaders had been bribed to call off the industrial action before fuel prices were reduced, claims the officials denied.