Hundreds of passengers who flocked Nairobi stages in an attempt to flee the capital were left stranded after being hit with hiked fares and scarce buses.
A spot check in various stages including Machakos Country Bus and Tea Room showed that some of the Public Transport Vehicles (PSVs) had hiked fares up to threefold.
For instance, a normal ticket from Nairobi to Mombasa costing Ksh2,000 had been increased to Ksh5,000 while those travelling to North Rift paid as much as Ksh2,500 from the normal Ksh1,000 or less.
Those travelling to Nyeri, which originally costs Ksh 300 was increased to Ksh1,000.
A video that emerged from Machakos Country Bus in Nairobi showed chaos, with people scrambling to board the buses. The most affected being those travelling as families.
One of the travellers who had already booked a bus to Mombasa at Ksh2,000 lamented that upon arrival to the stage, he was forced to pay more in order to board the matatu.
“I had paid in advance Sh1,800 but unfortunately, I am being forced to pay an extra Sh2,200. It is unfair,” complained James Luganje who was set to travel aboard a Tahmeed bus to Mombasa.
“Normally we pay at maximum Sh1000 but at the moment, the charges are too high. With my family, I need to part with up to Sh8,000,”complained James Makori who was headed to the North Rift region with his family.
The passengers were fleeing Nairobi ahead of the Sunday, March 28, partial lockdown deadline set at 8 p.m. affecting five counties including Nairobi, Machakos, Nakuru, Kajiado and Kiambu.
The passengers also recorded a scarcity in the number of buses travelling upcountry after some companies withheld their fleet for fear of being locked out.
In other areas such as Kakamega, travellers who were looking to travel to the city were also stranded after being hit with hiked transport fares of Ksh4,500 per head.
Many people lamented of the hiked transport charges including the bus crews and other business people who tender to travellers.
"They are now charging Ksh4,000 in this bus. Where am I supposed to get the money and I as a driver get paid Ksh500 per trip," lamented one of the drivers.
Salgaa-Sachangwan experienced increased traffic with travellers spending as much as two hours on the highway.
The hike in fares was not the preserve of matatu as domestic airlines also upped prices to take advantage of the increased demand.
A flight ticket from Mombasa to Nairobi, which goes for about Ksh5,000 was going for between Ksh15,000 and 20,000 over the weekend.
Below is the video:
A nation in limbo: Situation at Machakos Country Bus station pic.twitter.com/dWwYBCevO6
— Nation Africa (@NationAfrica) March 28, 2021
