A Look at Bus Fare Hike Across Kenya: Passengers Cry Out For Help and Reality Begins to Sink In

Kenyans have started feeling the reality of the implementation of the 16 percent Value Added Tax on petroleum products.

Tuesday morning, Kenyans woke up to a hiked bus fares across the country with thousands of them left stranded at various bus stations.

Bus fare within Nairobi has been raised by at least 20 percent with commuters paying between 20 to 50 shillings more than the normal amount.

From Nairobi’s Koja Stage to Ngara, the fare has increased from between 20 and 30 shillings to 50 shillings. From Nairobi CBD to Allsopps, the fare has been increased from 50 shillings to between 70 and 80 shillings.

Matatu Owners Association within the city has said that they will officially implement the 20 percent fare increment to cater for the hiked fuel price where a liter of super petrol is now retailing at 127 shillings while that of diesel is at 115 shillings with the prices higher in other regions.

Long distance travelers are the ones feeling the heat the most. For instance, those traveling from Mombasa to Nairobi by bus will have to part with between 1,600 and 1,800 shillings from between 1,000 and 1,200 shillings.

Those traveling from Kisumu to Nairobi are now paying between 1,000 and 1,200 shillings from an average of 800 shillings. From Nairobi to Nakuru, the fare has always oscillated between 300 and 500 shillings depending on Sacco someone is using. As of Tuesday morning, the fare was ranging between 600 and 700 shillings.

Those traveling from Kakamega are paying between 1,200 and 1,300 shillings on a journey they used to spend 800 to 1,000 shillings.

The government through the National Treasury implemented the 16 percent VAT on all petroleum products. The parliament had, however, suspended the implementation in an amendment to the law that awaits the approval of rejection of President Uhuru Kenyatta.