Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Hundreds stranded in rush back to towns



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Jared Nyataya | NATION A boy feeds a chicken as he waits to board a matatu at Eldoret bus terminus. Some matatu operators charged between Sh1,200 and Sh1,500 as town residents returned from their rural homes after Christmas
Jared Nyataya | NATION A boy feeds a chicken as he waits to board a matatu at Eldoret bus terminus. Some matatu operators charged between Sh1,200 and Sh1,500 as town residents returned from their rural homes after Christmas 
By PETER NG’ETICH pngetich@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, January 2  2012 at  22:00
IN SUMMARY
  • Crisis expected to worsen as schools open, with commuters fearing fares might even go up further
Travelling upcountry for Christmas came with a steep cost on Monday after matatu operators increased fares.
Operators cashed in on passengers trooping back to major towns to resume work on Tuesday.
Even after the fares were raised, most passengers in far-flung towns like Kisumu, Eldoret, Bungoma, Kitale and Meru remained stranded due to the scarcity of passenger vehicles.
Increased fares
A survey by the Nation indicated that most matatus plying Nairobi and other towns had increased fares by about 80 per cent.
Passenger vehicles like 105 Shuttle which usually ply estates in Nairobi took advantage of the swelling number of passengers in Eldoret to take them to Nairobi for Sh1,500 each.At Eldoret main bus terminus, 11-seater matatus, which usually charge Sh800, increased their fares to Sh1,600.
A passenger, Mr Ken Kemboi, said he waited for transport at North Rift Shuttle offices for more than five hours before he finally boarded at 3.30pm.
“I arrived at their offices at 10am but was told to wait for about five hours for matatus to come from Nairobi and transport us there,” Mr Kemboi said.
Other passengers from Eldoret to Mombasa were being charged Sh2,000, up from Sh1,700 an increment of Sh300 over what they were paying in December.
The transport crisis is expected to worsen on Wednesday with the opening of schools. Commuters fear that the amount charged might even go up further.
Private vehicles owners returning to the city from Eldoret charged the stranded passengers Sh2,000.
“I better carry passengers to Nairobi so that I can get money for the rising prices of fuel rather than travelling alone,” Mr Simeon Waweru said.
He added: “Because of the comfort in my saloon which they cannot get in the matatus, I’m charging them double.”
In Meru’s main bus stage, matatus were charging between Sh1,000 and Sh1,200, up from Sh600-Sh700.
Conductor James Mbuthia said he had to raise fares to cash in on the high demand for transport.
“We are charging Sh1,200 because we want to maximise on profits this season before business slumps after they have gone back to their work stations,” Mr Mbuthia said.
He said that he would increase fares again when schools open on Wednesday.
Transport crises have been occurring every festive season, with those travelling upcountry before Christmas paying more.
After the end of the festive season, those who are travelling back to the city again have to contend with increased fares.

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