East Africa Tour Guides and Drivers Association (EATGDA) CEO Kennedy Kaunda has denied claims that he or other transport sector representatives received a “brown envelope” to call off a planned strike over fuel prices.
Kaunda said no agreement had been reached yet and insisted that commuters and operators were still struggling with the high cost of fuel.
Kaunda noted that commuters were suffering as many vehicles were operating with few passengers because people could no longer afford transport costs.
“We had goodwill, and that was the goodwill we gave out after seven days. Whether the brown envelope was given to me or anybody else, I have not seen the envelope. The commuters are crying. Even when you look at the vehicles, they are empty. They are going to town and coming out of town empty,” he said.
This comes amid allegations that some members of the transport sector were bribed to suspend protests over rising fuel prices.
Kaunda said the transport sector could not afford another strike, especially with the tourism high season approaching.
He explained that discussions with government officials had not resulted in a final agreement, despite a joint press briefing after the meeting.
“We are gearing towards high season. Tourists are coming. The moment our matatus stop moving, there will be no movement. The seven-day dialogue was our goodwill. I remember we had not reached an agreement. We agreed to face the media and issue a statement postponing the meeting to either Tuesday or Wednesday,” he said.
Kaunda added that a section of Kenyans had been questioning him over the alleged payout after the meeting went viral online.
“Today I was walking in the streets, and Kenyans are crying. So many motorists stopped me asking where the brown envelope is. I was almost running away from the streets,” he said.
The controversy followed a heated meeting involving Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi, Transport CS Davis Chirchir and representatives from the matatu sector.
A viral clip from the meeting showed Kaunda insisting that no agreement had been reached, earning him widespread online attention and the now-trending phrase “with all due respect.”
In a follow-up interview, Kaunda said his comments were aimed at ensuring clarity and accountability during the negotiations.
“With all due respect, I didn’t see this coming,” he said.
According to Kaunda, transport stakeholders and senior government officials held discussions for nearly five hours over fuel pricing concerns before agreeing to return for further consultations.
“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,” he said.
