NAIROBI, Kenya — Police arrested several demonstrators in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) on Monday, October 26, as officers engaged protesters in running battles during demonstrations against rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of living.
Protesters gathered along parts of the CBD, including Moi Avenue and Kimathi Street, carrying placards demanding lower fuel prices and relief from the taxes they say are making life increasingly expensive.
Messages displayed on the placards included “Remove taxes on fuel” and “Wakenya wako njaa”, reflecting concerns over the rising cost of transport, goods and essential services.
The demonstrations took place despite a heavy police deployment across the city, with officers moving to disperse groups of protesters as the situation escalated. Several demonstrators were bundled into police vehicles and taken into custody.
One protester, who was being forced into a police vehicle, criticised the police response and called for government intervention to reduce fuel prices.
“We want fuel subsidy, Ruto anatunyonya anafanya maisha ya waKenya inakua ngumu. No way. Na polisi ambao wanatushika, nyinyi hamuoni shida hii ya fuel? Hamuoni kwamba wa Kenya wanalia? No. Reject fuel hike, reject,” the protester said.
The demonstrations centred on the impact of higher fuel prices on households and businesses, with participants calling on the government to reconsider the taxes and charges contributing to the cost of fuel.
Nairobi fuel prices fuel public anger
The protests followed the latest fuel price review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) for the October-November pricing cycle.
Under the revised prices, a litre of petrol in Nairobi costs KSh226.96, diesel KSh227.76 and kerosene KSh219.87.
Fuel prices have a direct bearing on transport and distribution costs, which can feed into the prices of food and other basic commodities. The latest increases have therefore added to concerns among households and businesses already facing pressure from the cost of living.
Protesters called for fuel subsidies and the removal of taxes they consider burdensome, placing renewed focus on the government’s fuel-pricing policy and the broader question of affordability.
Organisers had notified police of planned march
The Coalition of Human Rights Defenders had notified the National Police Service of its intention to hold a peaceful demonstration on Monday, with participants expected to assemble along Kimathi Street and proceed towards State House in Nairobi.
In a letter dated October 22 and received at Police Service Headquarters the same day, the coalition said the march was intended to draw attention to rising fuel prices and their impact on households and businesses.
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“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 assembly point will be Kimathi Street, with the intended destination being State House, Nairobi,” the letter stated.
The organisers estimated that between 500 and 900 people would take part. They also pledged to maintain order, protect the rights of members of the public and ensure the demonstration remained peaceful.
However, the planned march was disrupted by confrontations between police and protesters in the CBD. Several demonstrators were arrested as officers moved to disperse the gatherings.
It was not immediately clear how many people had been arrested, whether any demonstrators or police officers were injured, or whether those detained would face charges.
The protests underscore growing public concern over fuel affordability and the wider cost of living, with demonstrators demanding measures to ease the financial pressure on Kenyan households.
