It is relief for matatu operators after full passenger capacity on matatus resumed on Monday, August 9.
Matatu operators were, however, adamant that fare prices would remain the same despite the gesture by the government, on the gradual reopening of the economy.
The operators are decrying the hiked fuel prices as a deterrent to the directive on lowering fare prices.
The Energy Petroleum and Regulatory Authority (EPRA) released the new fuel prices on Wednesday, July 14, and maintained that the fuel prices would remain the same.
The cost of petroleum remains at Ksh127.14 while that of diesel is set at Ksh107.66. The cost of kerosene is set at Ksh97.85 in Nairobi.
One of the matatu operators, Migwi Njau, the Stage Manager for Climax Coaches, insisted that matatu owners had no intention of lowering the commuting fee, saying that such a move would be counterproductive.
"There is no way the fare will be reduced because the diesel price is still up...it has not been reduced; it makes no sense to reduce fare while retaining the current hiked fuel prices. Matatu owners will be hurting if they reduce the fare," Migwi complained.
Bernard Mbwele, another matatu operator who is the Operations Manager at Unified Poa Sacco, backed other matatu operators in retaining the current fares.
"We do not plan to increase or reduce fares considering the price of the fuel has not reduced," Mbwele stated.
The response comes after Nairobi Matatu Operators Chairman Jamal Ibrahim revealed that fares would reduce following a directive by the government that Public Service Vehicles could carry passengers to full capacity.
On Friday, August 6, the Ministry of Transport through the Cabinet Administrative Secretary (CAS) Chris Obure, revealed that PSVs would resume pre-Covid-19 operation modes starting Monday, August 9.
The government however warned matatu operators against violating the set measures in matatu operations, in preventing the further spread of the virus. The measures include a thermal screening of passengers and the disinfection of vehicles.
