The National Youth Service (NYS) has reduced the commuter prices of government buses from the initial Sh50 to a flat rate of Sh20.
Director General Richard Ndubai stated that the fares were subsidized following an outcry from members of the public.
"Following further plea from wananchi, commuters will pay a flat rate of Sh20 on NYS buses starting Saturday," the official noted.
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Ndubai further indicated that the move will alleviate the plight faced by commuters in Nairobi.
On Thursday, the NYS director General announced that the service would deploy 27 buses to help mitigate the commuter crisis in Nairobi occasioned by the ongoing heavy rains.
Mr Ndubai stated that the decision to deploy the buses was made to save commuters from the high fares that are charged by public commuter vehicles during the rainy season.
Mr Ndubai also mentioned that although more buses will be deployed at a later stage, the routes that will immediately benefit from the NYS buses include Kibera, Githurai, Mwiki, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Dandora, Kariobangi and Kawangware.
“We have witnessed people in Nairobi walking long distances in the rain and most of the time due to high fares charged by commuter vehicles," he stated.
Matatu Owners, however, objected the move stating they would frustrate it until it fails.
Chairman Simon Kimutai and Matatu Welfare Association chairman Dickson Mbugua lamented that the new system will ruin the business through unfair competition.
"We have to question their intention. We don't fear competition but we perceive such a move as a deliberate action by the government to spoil our business," Kimutai noted.
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