Matatu and bus fares up as firms say further increases are likely
Phoebe Okall | NATION
A passenger loads her luggage at the Akamba stage on December 23, 2011. Several passengers who had booked the 7am bus to Kampala complained of being delayed. The bus arrived at 11.30am.
What you need to know:
- Travellers pay Sh700 to Karatina up from Sh300 while bus firm charges Sh1,200 to Kitale up from Sh800
Most matatu and bus fares went up by Sh200 on Friday.
At the Machakos bus terminus, in Nairobi, a bus conductor boasted: “We are not persuading anyone. We have set the fare, the rest is up to you.”
A bus plying the Nairobi-western Kenya route raised fares to Sh1,200 to Kitale from Sh800.
Matunda Bus was charging Sh1,600 “because we are receiving more passengers than we can handle,” said the conductor who identified himself only as James.
Some bus firms said the fare may go up to Sh2,000 on Saturday if more passengers turn up.
Mr Peter Kimani, a conductor at the Kitale Shuttle, said they vehicles were making very little on their return trips from upcountry hence the fare increase.
“We are overwhelmed going to western, but there are no passengers coming to Nairobi. We need to balance our expenses,” he said.
Passengers were not amused.
Along Accra Road, Ms Grace Wairimu complained about the exorbitant fares and long queues to find transport to her rural home in Karatina.
All buses are full
“We are paying Sh700 up from Sh300,” said Wairimu, who was with her two nieces.
Ken Silver Express bus on Dubois Road stopped all bookings until Monday because all their buses were full.
Passengers with Akamba Bus Service were stranded for hours due to delays, sparking protests.
The 7am bus to Kigali via Nakuru, Kisumu, Busia and Kampala, left minutes after midday.
“We have been waiting all morning and no one has bothered to explain to us what is going on,” Carol Owase said.
Others who were in transit from Kampala to Dar es Salaam-Tanzania, arrived in Nairobi six hours late.
“We left Kampala two hours behind schedule and along the way, they changed the bus and took us along a route we are not familiar with,” Anitah Bwaniika said.
Ms Bwaniika was destined for Zanzibar to celebrate the Christmas.
“They are telling us that they can either refund the money or we wait for the next bus, which will leave tomorrow at 6am,” she added.
The staff of the bus company at the Lagos Road office in Nairobi said they were not authorised to speak to the media.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that the delays were caused by a suspected workers go-slow.
