A strike that had been scheduled for Wednesday morning by the Motorists Association of Kenya in protest of the imminent increase in the cost of fuel occasioned by the proposed 16 per cent Value Added Tax on petroleum products, failed to materialize.

The roads today were very clear with no traffic recorded even on major roads like Mombasa Road and the Thika Superhighway, perhaps because most motorists, in fear of inconveniences, opted to just leave their cars at home.

It was business as usual for Matatus and a quick check at the Kencom Bus Stop showed dozens of passengers on queues, waiting to board and commute to work.

According to the plan by the association, all motorists were expected to take a three-hour stoppage between 7:30 am and 10:30 am, the time around which most Kenyans set off to work.

“To all Motorists.
Its official, let’s join in anti-high fuel VAT protest by sparing some stoppage time on Wednesday 22 August 2018 from 7.30am to 10.30am on the road in Nairobi and all major towns.
Stop in solidarity whenever you will be. 
A little inconvenience to fight for fair fuel prices is worth it. 
We are stronger together. 
Share widely,” the notice by Motorists Association reads.

The association’s chairman Peter Murima, however, maintained that the strike took place at Roysambu and it will happen every Wednesday until the government addresses the grievance.

“We will do this every Wednesday until the government can change this dynamic. We will even go to court if they don’t want to change this,” he said.

The proposed VAT is set to take effect from September 1 and will see petrol prices shoot to more than Sh131.93 per litre in Nairobi, while diesel and kerosene will cost highs of Sh119.18 and Sh98.54 from the current Sh102.74 and Sh84.95 per litre, respectively.

The increase in diesel and petrol will see have a ripple effect on the prices of goods and services, which experts say will go up by about 4% due to the increased cost of production and manufacturing.