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Thousands of Kenyan commuters have been stranded and businesses paralysed as public transport operators went on a nationwide strike to protest against recent increases in the cost of fuel prompted by the Iran war.

The Transport Sector Alliance said on Sunday that vehicles affiliated with its member associations would stop operating from midnight in protest, while police said they would act to tackle any disruptions.

“We lost four Kenyans ⁠in today’s violence, which also saw more than 30 people injured,” Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen told a televised press conference.

Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority last week raised retail fuel prices by as much as 23.5% – after hiking them by 24.2% last month – as the conflict in the Middle East squeezed global oil and gas supplies.

On Monday morning, roads into the capital Nairobi were blocked by striking transport operators and scattered groups of protesters.

Key roads in the capital Nairobi remained largely empty, forcing some commuters to walk to work, with other parts of the country also affected by the transport crisis.

Some businesses in Nairobi remained shut and schools asked students to stay at home.

Protesters have been blocked roads and lighting burning barricades. More than 200 have been arrested, police say.

The strike comes days after the authorities raised petroleum prices to record levels, with costs increasing by more than 20%.

Police fired tear gas in some areas while some protesters lit tyres ​to cut access to key roads, worsening congestion and leaving many commuters stranded.

•Members of the Samsung Electronics labour union hold signs reading “Change it to be transparent!” as they stage a mass rally demanding the removal of a cap on performance bonuses, outside the company’s foundry and semiconductor factory in Pyeongtaek on April 23, 2026. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP via Getty Images)Jung Yeon-je | Afp | Getty Images

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday called for both labor and management rights to be respected as an 18-day strike at Samsung Electronics looms.

Lee, posting on X in Korean, said “labor must be respected as much as business, and corporate management rights must be respected as much as labor rights.”

“Excess is not beneficial; extremes lead to reversal,” he added, according to a CNBC translation of his statement.

Lee’s remarks are the latest in a chorus of statements from government officials urging Samsung Electronics and its workers’ union to reach an agreement before a planned strike set to begin on May 21.

A final round of talks between the union and Samsung’s management was scheduled for Monday.

The union’s demands center on Samsung’s performance-based bonus system. It is seeking performance bonuses equivalent to 15% of Samsung’s operating profit, the removal of bonus payout caps, and a formalized bonus structure, among other measures.

Samsung’s management has offered to allocate 10% of operating profit to bonuses and provide a one-time special compensation package, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.

Source: CNBC.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has urged Nigerian and Chadian authorities to launch prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into two recent airstrikes that killed dozens of civilians.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Türk expressed concern over reports that Nigerian airstrikes on a market killed at least 100 civilians, while separate Chadian airstrikes in the Lake Chad region left dozens of Nigerian fishermen dead or missing.

“It is crucial that both Nigerian and Chadian authorities conduct prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into these disturbing incidents and ensure that those responsible for any violations are held to account, in accordance with international standards,” Türk said.

The incidents highlight the ongoing risks to civilians in the Lake Chad Basin amid intensified military operations against Islamist militants, including factions linked to Boko Haram and ISWAP.

In one case, Nigerian military jets reportedly struck a market in Jilli village, Yobe State, an area allegedly used by insurgents. Local reports and rights groups indicated heavy civilian casualties, prompting Nigeria to order its own investigation while defending the operation as targeting militant strongholds.

Separately, Chadian forces carried out retaliatory airstrikes on Boko Haram positions in the Lake Chad region. Fishermen’s leaders reported that more than 40 Nigerian fishermen were feared dead — some killed directly in the strikes and others drowning while fleeing in overloaded boats. No official casualty figures have been confirmed by authorities in either country.

The UN rights chief’s call underscores growing international pressure for accountability in counter-terrorism operations that have increasingly impacted civilian populations in the volatile region.

Both Nigeria and Chad face persistent security challenges from militant groups operating across borders, with operations often conducted in remote areas where distinguishing between combatants and civilians remains difficult.

Further details on the investigations and any accountability measures are expected in the coming weeks.