Commuters across Kenya are expected to dig deeper into their pockets after Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators announced a 50 per cent increase in transport fares following the latest fuel price hike announced by the government.
The fare increase comes just hours after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) raised petrol prices by Ksh16.65 per litre and diesel prices by Ksh46.29 per litre. Kerosene prices, however, remained unchanged.
The sharp rise in diesel prices has particularly affected the transport sector since most public service vehicles rely on diesel for daily operations.
Speaking during a press briefing on Friday, representatives from the matatu industry said the rising fuel costs have made it difficult for operators to continue charging the usual fares. They explained that the increase in fuel prices has significantly reduced their earnings while increasing operating expenses such as fuel consumption, maintenance and daily running costs.
According to the operators, the new fare charges are expected to take effect immediately across different routes in Nairobi and other parts of the country.
This means commuters who previously paid Ksh100 for a trip could now be required to pay up to Ksh150.
The announcement is likely to affect thousands of Kenyans who depend on public transport daily to travel to work, school and businesses.
Many commuters are already struggling with the high cost of living, and the latest increase is expected to add more pressure on household budgets.
PSV operators announced plans to stage a nationwide strike beginning Monday, May 18.
The operators said they feel ignored despite earlier promises from the government to address concerns around fuel prices and the challenges facing the transport industry.
Matatu association representative Albert Karakacha warned that there would be no movement of PSV vehicles during the planned strike. He said operators would block roads until the government listens to their demands for lower fuel prices.
Karakacha also urged investors and stakeholders in the transport sector to support the move, insisting that fare prices will remain high until the government intervenes. If the strike proceeds as planned, transport services in major towns and cities could be heavily disrupted, affecting businesses, workers and students across the country.
