A number of matatu operators around the country have delved to cash in on the rush that parents and students are facing as schools reopen on Monday, January 3 after a two-week break.
A section of parents as well as motorists decried matatu operators hiking the normal fares despite them booking earlier.
Others are concerned that the trend may continue, which may see the fares double and triple in the coming days- a worrying situation that will cause them to dig deeper into their pockets at a time when they are struggling with school fees.
"Tomorrow i'm heading to work and they are charging Ksh1,000 as opposed to the normal rate of Ksh300. We have no option but to pay even though we feel the pinch of the hike," a passenger lamented.
A student also decried that he had to pay double the charge from Kericho to Nairobi.
"In my case I had to pay double the amount in order to arrive in Nairobi from Kericho. I'm heading to school. I pray that they decrease the fares," he stated.
The back to school rush coupled with Kenyans resuming work created a recipe for heavy traffic in select highways in Nairobi.
A number of passengers who ply the Mombasa road route, experienced heavy snarl up that saw motorists rushing to beat early morning traffic.
On the other hand, this brings about a rise in travel demand which sees a number of matatu operators capitalizing on.
The school calendar is set to be one of a kind as students will sit for five national examinations for Grade Six, Standard Eight and Form Four students.
Standard Eight and Form Four candidates will sit their exams in March and April, while those in Standard Seven and Form Three will join their final classes in late April and sit KCPE and KCSE exams in November and December respectively.
Education Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha, has in the recent past, urged schools not to send students home due to fees assuring that the government would disburse funds in due time.
