Bus firms must tame fare hikes

The roads are teeming with Christmas traffic. In the spirit of the season families and friends, even under crippling economic circumstances, have set aside their modest budgets to meet and make merry.

It’s also a time of the year to review the past and plan for the year or years ahead.

Long-suffering parents will have one eye on the celebrations and the other on the school obligations, especially financial.

But managers of public service vehicles, as they always do at the end of the year, are exploiting passengers by doubling fares to make a killing by taking advantage of the holiday demand in total disregard of the spirit of the season.

The Matatu Owners Association and other lobby groups in the transport business must come out strongly and sanction transporters robbing passengers in the name of holiday transport.

We urge the Ministry of Transport to intervene and find ways of discouraging matatu and bus companies from abusing their power.

Millions of Kenyans are facing major financial headache, transporters should not make the situation worse.

Transporters seem to behave like spoilsports keen to ruin the mood with their unnecessary decision to double fares.

Quote of the Day: “I believe fundamental honesty is the keystone of business.”

Harvey S. Firestone  

The American industrialist and founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was born on December 20, 1868