Transport official Kennedy Kaunda/SCREENGRABA transport sector official at the centre of a viral exchange during high-level fuel price negotiations has broken his silence, offering a detailed account of what transpired during a dramatic meeting involving government officials and stakeholders.
The man who has since been identified as Kennedy Kaunda gained widespread online attention following a heated moment during a Monday meeting with Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Transport CS Davis Chirchir, and representatives from the matatu sector.
The meeting had been convened to address disagreement over fuel prices and disruptions in the transport sector.
The viral clip showed Kaunda insisting that no agreement had been reached, a moment that quickly gained traction on social media and sparked debate.
Speaking in a follow-up interview on Tuesday, and referring to the viral moment that earned him the “with all due respect” tag, he echoed the same line, saying: “With all due respect, I didn’t see this coming."
While addressing and elaborating on the meeting, Kaunda maintained that his remarks were made in the interest of clarity and accountability, saying the situation during the meeting did not amount to a finalised agreement.
According to Kaunda, the meeting brought together transport stakeholders and senior government officials for nearly five hours of discussions aimed at addressing fuel pricing concerns.
He explained that there was an initial understanding among stakeholders that further consultations would be required before any formal announcement.
“The clarion call was that we postpone and go back to consult. Thereafter, they said they needed to go back because we had not agreed with the offer they had given us. So we agreed to call the media to issue a press statement, which we all agreed,” he said.
However, Kaunda stated that he was taken by surprise when government officials later appeared to present the discussions as having reached an agreement. This, he said, prompted his public intervention during the meeting.
“When the CSs came into the boardroom, I was taken by surprise. Being as I am, I am a trained guy to give correct, authentic information. I was taken by surprise that we had reached an agreement,” he explained.
“That is what led me, and my conscience, to talk to the nation that has been affected by the fuel increment to state it the way it is.”
His remarks, particularly the repeated phrase “with all due respect,” quickly became a focal point online, with many Kenyans interpreting it as a firm disagreement on the outcome of the talks.
The meeting came against the backdrop of a nationwide matatu operators’ strike, which has disrupted transport services in several parts of the country.
The industrial action has persisted despite a recent adjustment in fuel prices by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), which saw diesel prices reduced by Sh10 to Sh232.86 per litre, while kerosene increased by Sh38.60 to Sh191.38 per litre.
Kaunda further noted that while discussions remain open and there is optimism for an eventual resolution, no ceasefire has been reached until key grievances are addressed.
