The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Until Monday afternoon, Kennedy Kaunda was largely unknown outside Kenya’s tourism and transport circles. By evening, however, his name, voice, and signature phrase — “with all due respect” — had taken over social media conversations nationwide.
Kaunda, who serves as CEO of the East Africa Tour Guides and Drivers Association (EATGDA), rose to prominence during a heated press briefing that followed high-level talks on fuel prices and a nationwide transport strike.
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His blunt dismissal of claims that an agreement had been reached immediately struck a chord with many Kenyans struggling with rising fuel and living costs.
The incident unfolded after a closed-door meeting involving Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Transport CS Davis Chirchir, alongside transport sector stakeholders, aimed at resolving growing protests linked to fuel prices.
During the subsequent joint briefing, Wandayi indicated that the talks had made progress, especially on issues such as fuel adulteration driven by price differences between diesel and kerosene.
But before the briefing concluded, representatives from the transport sector objected, insisting that no final deal had been reached.
Kaunda then stepped forward and calmly but firmly corrected the narrative.
“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,” he said.
The moment instantly shifted the tone of the briefing, with cameras capturing an uneasy silence as the Cabinet Secretaries listened.
Clips of the exchange quickly went viral, with Kenyans praising Kaunda for his confidence and directness during a sensitive national discussion.
The phrase “with all due respect” soon became an online sensation, sparking memes, edits, and widespread commentary.
Much of the public reaction focused on his insistence that key concerns from transport stakeholders had not been resolved.
According to Kaunda, operators had pushed for diesel price reductions of between Sh30 and Sh35 per litre, while the government side had reportedly proposed a reduction of about Sh10 through EPRA-led consultations.
He later explained that the meeting was meant to be exploratory, with further consultations expected before any formal announcement.
Kaunda said he was taken aback when officials appeared to present the discussions as having already produced a final agreement.
“That is what forced me to speak,” he later said, adding that it was misleading to suggest the matter had been fully resolved.
Although widely assumed to represent matatu operators, Kaunda actually leads EATGDA — a professional association of tour guides, naturalists, and driver-guides across Kenya and the wider East African region.
The organisation advocates for professional standards, certification, and improved welfare for tourism transport workers, and works closely with bodies such as the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Tourism Regulatory Authority.
While not part of matatu leadership structures, Kaunda participated in the talks because tourism transport providers have also been affected by rising fuel costs.
His intervention ultimately clarified that negotiations were still ongoing and no agreement had been finalized.
Public reaction was swift and largely supportive, with many Kenyans describing him as bold, composed, and refreshingly honest.
On social media, the phrase he used quickly turned into a cultural meme, symbolizing respectful but firm disagreement with authority.
By the following day, users were digging up past clips of Kaunda, noting that his confidence and communication style were not new.
Some even dubbed him an unexpected “voice of the people,” as his words reflected widespread frustration over the cost of living.
What started as an ordinary press briefing ultimately turned an otherwise little-known industry leader into a national talking point — all anchored on a simple phrase: “with all due respect.”
