A section of matatu operators are now withdrawing their vehicles from the road in a bid to cutting losses as the fuel crisis continues to deepen across the country.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Matatu Owners Association Chairman Simon Kimutai noted that the rising cost of doing business had been caused by the unavailability of fuel.
"Grounding of vehicles is caused by the shortage of fuel and hiking of fares is because of demand outfitting supply, market forces.
"This is temporary, normalcy will resume as soon as the supply of fuel stabilises and without prices being hiked," stated Kimutai.
Some of the operators claimed that they were queuing for hours in search of the precious commodity, with most filling stations not selling petrol and diesel.
"Our vehicles have been grounded. Some are stuck in Eldoret while others are in Nairobi. They were acquired on loan. Please, Government, we ask you to tell us the truth.
"The oil traders have also reduced the quantity," stated the operator.
The businesswoman who spoke to the media further divulged that she had incurred upwards of Ksh500,000 losses since the fuel shortage hit, with Western Kenya being the worst affected region.
Some matatus in Nairobi have also resorted to hiking fares, as the cost of doing business is passed to the commuters.
An expert in the field, in an interview with Citizen TV, projected that it would take three weeks for the crisis to end after the supply of oil returns to normal.
So dire is the situation that police were forced to disperse boda boda riders at a Petrol station in Rongo, Migori county, who were scrambling for the commodity. Some stations have implemented a fuel cap of up to Ksh1,000 per refill.
