Kennedy Kaunda, that transport sector official who somehow managed to grab national attention for boldly contradicting two Cabinet secretaries during a live fuel crisis briefing, has sensationally said that his life is now under threat, sort of like it’s not just pressure anymore.
This comes after his viral run-in with Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi and Transport CS Davis Chirchir, where he publicly pushed back on the government’s story that a deal had been reached to shut down the ongoing nationwide matatu strike.
Speaking right after the high-stakes meeting, Kaunda, the CEO of the East Africa Tour Guides and Drivers Association, explained that the push to fall in line with the government version of events has shifted from polite persuasion to outright intimidation, and yes, he used those words pretty clearly. “My life is in danger,” Kaunda said, pointing to a string of unsettling moments since he dismantled, basically, the government public relations attempt at Transcom House.
The moment itself left everyone reacting because the cabinet secretaries were standing there in what looked like stunned quiet while Kaunda declared, “With all due respect, there is no deal.” And from there, the lesser-known transport figure turned into a kind of banner of resistance against the rising fuel costs that have been squeezing operators.
Even though government officials tried to sell the meeting as a real breakthrough, Kaunda’s intervention brought to light fractures in the talks, as he argued that the proposed Sh10 reduction in diesel prices is a “pittance,” not really enough, not even close, to tame the wider economic crisis hitting the transport sector.
So now, Kaunda’s claim that he is being threatened adds yet another volatile layer to an already simmering national standoff. The transport strike, which has effectively slowed economic activity in several regions, is still unresolved despite repeated attempts by state officials to calm things down in the sector.
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