Human rights defenders are planning another demonstration in Nairobi on Monday, October 26, to protest rising fuel prices and the growing cost of living, with organisers expecting hundreds of people to march from the city centre towards State House.

The planned demonstration comes amid growing pressure on the government to address higher fuel costs, which have renewed concerns about public transport fares, household expenses and the cost of doing business.

The Coalition of Human Rights Defenders notified the police of its intention to hold the march in a letter dated Thursday, October 22. The letter was received at Police Service Headquarters on the same day.

According to the notification, the demonstration will begin along Kimathi Street in Nairobi’s Central Business District and proceed towards State House.

“We, the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, hereby notify your office of our intention to hold a peaceful demonstration on Monday, 26 October 2026, to protest the high cost of fuel and its impact on the cost of living,” the letter stated.

The organisers estimate that between 500 and 900 people will participate. They have pledged to maintain order, encourage peaceful conduct and respect the rights of other members of the public during the march.

The police had been notified of the planned demonstration as of Friday, October 23. The organisers’ notification does not, on its own, establish how the authorities will manage the procession or whether any additional public safety measures will be announced.

Fuel prices at the centre of public anger

The protest plans follow a sharp increase in the maximum retail prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on October 14.

The revised prices took effect on October 15 and will remain in force until November 14.

In Nairobi, a litre of super petrol rose by KSh12.93 to KSh226.96. Diesel increased by KSh9.90 to KSh227.76, while kerosene recorded the largest rise, climbing by KSh28.49 to KSh219.87.

The figures are maximum retail prices set by the regulator for the period. 

The increase has placed fuel costs at the centre of a wider dispute over the affordability of transport and other essential expenses.

For motorists, the immediate effect is higher spending at the pump. For public transport operators, diesel costs can add to the expense of keeping vehicles on the road. Businesses that depend on vehicles to move goods may also face higher operating bills.

Those costs can feed into the prices paid by consumers, although the extent of any increase depends on individual businesses, transport routes and other expenses.

Kerosene users have also been affected by the latest adjustment, with the price per litre rising by KSh28.49 in Nairobi.

Commuters’ group threatens legal action against EPRA

The planned march is part of a broader push by activists and commuter representatives for the government to reconsider the fuel increases.

The Counties Commuters Welfare Association (COCOWA) gave EPRA 14 days from October 19 to revoke the latest price increases or face possible legal action.

The association has questioned whether the review adequately involved commuter representatives and called for a clearer explanation of the factors behind the new prices.

It has also urged the regulator to engage stakeholders and outline measures to protect passengers from rising transport costs. 

The dispute reflects a central concern for commuters: even when fuel prices are set at the pump, the consequences can reach people who do not own vehicles.

Passengers who depend on matatus and buses may face higher fares if operators seek to recover increased fuel expenses. Households may also have to adjust spending if transport and the prices of goods rise.

However, the full effect of the latest price review on household budgets has yet to be established, and the size of any fare changes will vary by operator and route.

Activists seek tax relief and greater transparency

The Nairobi march follows wider mobilisation by activists and civil society groups seeking changes to fuel pricing and relief for households and businesses.

Groups mobilising under the Paza Sauti Movement have called for the suspension of value-added tax on petroleum products, an independent audit of the energy sector and greater transparency over the taxes and levies included in pump prices.

Activist Nyanjom Joshua of Concerned Citizens of Kenya said the higher costs were putting pressure on households, manufacturers, farmers, transporters and small businesses.

“The current cost of fuel is unbearable and burdens small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, transporters and households,” Joshua said in a statement reported by The Star on October 20.

The group has also called for tax relief for businesses facing higher operating costs and for public agencies to explain the basis of fuel price adjustments. 

These demands extend beyond a reduction in the price displayed at petrol stations. The campaigners want the government to review the tax burden on petroleum products and account for how pricing decisions are made.

The protests also place pressure on the government to explain what measures, if any, it intends to take to cushion consumers against higher costs.

Matatu operators rule out strike

Despite concerns about the latest increase, matatu operators have said they will continue providing transport services rather than stage an industry-wide strike.

Matatu Owners Association president Albert Karakacha has ruled out industrial action, saying operators will continue working despite the rise in diesel prices.

His position offers some reassurance to commuters worried about disruptions to their daily journeys. It does not, however, rule out fare increases as operators respond to higher expenses.

Karakacha has indicated that operators would continue their businesses, while the additional costs could ultimately be passed on to passengers. 

The decision highlights the competing pressures in the transport sector. Operators must cover fuel and other running costs, while passengers are already facing concerns about the affordability of daily travel.

A fare increase may help operators meet their expenses, but it would add another burden for workers, students and households that rely on public transport.

Previous protest raises questions over press freedom

Monday’s planned demonstration comes just days after protests over fuel prices were held along Kimathi Street on Tuesday, October 20.

During those protests, Citizen TV journalist Odee Francis was temporarily arrested while covering the events.

Images circulated from the scene appeared to show plainclothes officers dragging the journalist near the Kenyatta Avenue junction before placing him in a waiting police Land Cruiser. Reports on the incident said investigations had been initiated.

The incident has added a press-freedom dimension to the protests, given the role of journalists in documenting public demonstrations and police conduct. The circumstances surrounding the arrest and the outcome of the reported investigations were not fully established in the available accounts. <Cite refs={["turn562143search0","turn730907news22"]}/>

The handling of Monday’s march will therefore be closely watched by participants, journalists and members of the public, particularly in light of the events of October 20.

What happens next?

The Coalition of Human Rights Defenders says it intends to keep Monday’s demonstration peaceful. Its notification identifies Kimathi Street as the starting point and State House as the intended destination.

The march is scheduled for October 26, but its eventual scale and the arrangements for managing movement through the Central Business District remain uncertain.

Under Article 37 of Kenya’s Constitution, every person has the right to assemble peacefully and unarmed, demonstrate, picket and present petitions to public authorities.

The planned demonstration will test how that right is exercised amid public anger over rising fuel prices and the cost of living.

For the organisers, the march is an opportunity to press the government for action. For commuters and businesses, the concern is more immediate: how much more they may have to spend to travel, transport goods and meet everyday needs.

The government and the regulator now face renewed calls to explain the latest price adjustments and respond to demands for relief. Whether those calls lead to a policy change remains to be seen.