African states in dilemma as fuel shock puts them on collision course with citizens
Protesters block the road during a strike by public transport operators driven by rising fuel costs in Githurai area of Nairobi, Kenya on May 19, 2026.
The public transport disruption in Kenya this week, in which operators withdrew services to protest soaring fuel prices, has been paused for a week to allow negotiations. But analysts warn that the data points to more African countries facing similar turmoil.
In Kenya, the spark was the steepest fuel price increase yet. The strike by the Transport Sector Alliance (TSA) began after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) announced higher retail fuel prices, with diesel rising to Ksh242 per litre ($1.85) and petrol to Ksh214 per litre ($1.65). Authorities cited the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has caused a major blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
