The man behind “with all due respect” remarks during the transport sector strike was notably absent on Friday morning as President William Ruto met transport operators.
ennedy Kaunda, who is the CEO of the East Africa Tour Guides and Drivers Association (EATGDA), was nowhere to be seen during the high-level meeting attended by several transport sector representatives.
According to photos seen by Whisperswire from the State House meeting, President Ruto was seen posing for a group photo and later addressing the press alongside all transport operators’ representatives.
Reports indicate that the meeting was held on Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22, 2026, at the State House in Mombasa, following days of protests by transport operators triggered by increased fuel prices.
Kaunda rose to fame earlier this week after publicly contradicting Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi’s remarks during a tense press briefing on Tuesday, May 19.
The strong rejection of Wandayi’s claims that progress had been made on the strike resonated with frustrated Kenyans who are struggling with increased fuel costs.
The closed-door meeting had brought together senior government officials and transport sector stakeholders to find a solution to protests over fuel prices.
However, before the briefing could conclude, transport sector representatives led by Kaunda interrupted the government’s statement, insisting that no agreement had been reached.
“With all due respect, we respect everyone here; we did not come to set anybody up. We are law-abiding citizens. So there’s no deal. The strike is still on,” Kaunda said.
His absence from the Statement House meeting has raised speculations amongst the public of whether he willingly did not attend or was excluded from the meeting.
