Kenyans planning to travel upcountry are set to spend more on transport after major long-distance bus companies announced fare hikes following the latest fuel price review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
The fare increases come just two days after EPRA raised the price of super petrol by Ksh16.65 per litre and diesel by Ksh46.29 per litre, while kerosene prices remained unchanged.
The sharp rise in diesel prices has heavily impacted the transport sector, especially long-distance bus companies that rely on diesel-powered fleets for daily operations.
Among the first companies to implement the new fares is Transline Classic, which issued a public notice on Friday, May 15, announcing revised charges on several routes with immediate effect.
Under the new pricing structure, passengers travelling between Nairobi and upcountry destinations through Narok will now pay Ksh1,700 for both Nairobi-Upcountry and Upcountry-Nairobi trips.
Travellers using the Kisii-Kisumu route will now pay Ksh700, while passengers travelling between Kisii and Nakuru will be charged Ksh1,000.
Bus operators say the fare adjustments are necessary to cushion transport companies from rising operational costs triggered by the latest fuel increases.
Apart from fuel expenses, transporters have also cited increasing maintenance costs, high spare parts prices, and inflationary pressure as factors making operations more expensive.
At the same time, ENA Coach has also announced new fare adjustments, blaming the sudden fuel price increase for the move.
Under ENA Coach’s revised rates, passengers travelling from Nairobi to upcountry destinations via Narok will pay Ksh1,700, while those using the Nakuru route will part with Ksh1,800.
The Nairobi-Mombasa route has now been set at Ksh2,000, while passengers travelling between Kisii and Kisumu will pay Ksh700.
Meanwhile, fares between Mombasa and upcountry destinations in either direction have been adjusted to Ksh3,000, with the company stating that the new charges take effect immediately.
The latest adjustments by Transline Classic and ENA Coach come just hours after Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators in Nairobi announced a 50 per cent fare increase across various routes.
Speaking to the press on Friday, transport sector representatives said the rising fuel costs had drastically reduced their earnings while increasing operational expenses, forcing operators to raise fares.
The PSV operators also threatened to stage a nationwide strike beginning Monday, May 18, arguing that the current fuel prices could cripple the transport industry if no intervention is made.
The developments are expected to pile more pressure on millions of Kenyans already struggling with the high cost of living, as transport costs continue to rise across the country.