STORY: :: Crowds disrupt motorbike taxis and block roads in protest of Kenya’s rising fuel prices
:: Mombasa, Kenya / May 18, 2026
Images from the city show people confronting drivers, forcing some motorbike taxis to turn back as movement slowed across affected streets.
The disruption comes after Kenya sharply increased retail fuel prices, with petrol rising to 214.25 Kenyan shillings ($1.40) a liter and diesel to 242.92 shillings ($1.60), following a similar hike last month. Authorities say the increases are driven by tight global crude supplies and high energy costs linked to conflict in the Middle East.
Kenya relies heavily on imported fuel, much of it sourced from the Gulf under government-to-government deals, leaving consumers exposed to global price shocks. The latest increases have pushed up transport costs and added strain on household budgets, fueling broader frustration.
