- The association said the rise in fares will cushion owners against the surge in fuel costs.
- Matatu owners have also increased pick hours to also cover for the fuel prices.
Image: HANDOUT
Kenyans should brace for tough times ahead with matatu fares going up following the rise in fuel prices on Thursday night.
Kenya Matatu Owners Association announced that following the spike in Petroleum and Diesel prices, fares will be increased to cover the losses.
The association said on Friday that fares will increase between Sh30 and Sh50 during peak and off-peak hours for areas around Nairobi and its metropolis.
Brendan Marshall, traffic coordinator and senior MOA member said that Kenyans should expect to shoulder the burden given that the fuel prices will have a ripple effect.
"For instance, a matatu that initially charged Sh100 during peak hours will now charge between Sh120 or Sh150. We will also extend the peak hours which previously lasted from 6:00 am to 8:00 am, and will run up to 10:00 am," he told Kenyans.co.ke.
"In the evening, the peak hours will begin an hour earlier and start at 4:00 pm and last till 7:00 pm. During this time, the fare will cost around Sh150. After 7:00 pm, the fare will remain a constant Sh100."
Marshall also explained that during off-peak hours, fares will hike by Sh30 to Sh50.
This would mean that if a matatu was charging Sh50, it would now charge Shh70 or Sh80.
Marshall said that the new prices would come into effect immediately.
"From today (Friday), since the fuel prices came into effect at midnight, we did a spot-check and found that some petrol stations were hoarding fuel at around 9:00 pm yesterday so that they adjust new prices so we cannot give a grace period," he said.
According to Marshall, the hike in fares is aimed at cushioning their business from adverse effects occasioned by the fuel hike.
"This will cause a rift between us and our workers because, at the end of the day, targets need to be met. Most of the time, the cars are purchased on loans so the banks expect their cut, the owners expect their cut as well, so it's high time we hike the prices," he said.
"At the end of the month, we have to pay insurance premiums, city council averaging Sh7,000, traffic officers also expect their cut, so this is a dire situation that needs to be addressed."
For the first time in history, the prices of fuel rose by as high as Sh20 per litre with the big jump expected to have far-reaching consequences for households.
In the review, the price of petrol is up by almost Sh17 per litre while that of diesel has increased by about Sh21.32 per litre.
"The maximum allowed petroleum pump prices in Nairobi are as follows: Super Petrol increases by Sh16.96, Diesel increases by Sh21.32 per litre and Kerosene increases by Sh33.13 per litre," Epra announced on Thursday.