Passengers commuting to various parts of the country should brace for a high commuting cost after matatu bosses announced a hike in fares for long-distance travelers.
Branden Marshall, an official of the Association of Matatu Operators (AMO), said passengers traveling from Nairobi CBD to the Western region, Coast, among others, will be the most affected by the latest move.
The prices are expected to be increased during off-peak hours for matatus accessing the CBD.
“For instance, if during peak hours the fare is Sh100 and off-peak hours it is Sh50. The prices will now remain constant at Sh100 throughout the entire day,” he said.
Fuel prices increased: Petrol Sh. 182.70, diesel Sh. 168.40, kerosene Sh. 161.13
The latest move is aimed at cushioning operators from losses following the recent hike in fuel prices by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
According to the latest EPRA review, motorists will now pay Sh. 182.70 for a liter of super petrol, Sh. 168.40 for diesel, and Sh. 161.13 for a liter of kerosene.
These prices reflect an increase of Sh. Sh. 3.40 per liter of petrol, Sh. 6.40 per liter of diesel and Sh. 15.19 per liter of kerosene.
Marshall added that the move will also curb cases of fare overprice or underprice among Saccos in their efforts to meet daily targets.
“We need to maintain the peak and off-peak hours prices to curb some Saccos from offering different prices other than the standard,” he said.
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“In one route, you find that we have more than ten Saccos, and they all have set targets. So, this primarily leads to some overloading and carrying excess passengers to raise the amount needed.
“So, if a matatu covering ten trips consumes Sh4,500 of fuel and right now it consumes Sh5,000, to cover the same trips, they end up making losses,” added Marshall.
Just like any other business, Marshall said matatus have to cover some expenses, which include payment of premium insurance, paying of employees as well as servicing loans at the end of the month, which cannot be attained without sufficient profits.
