- Matatu Owners Association president Albert Karakacha has directed members to increase fares by 10% following the latest fuel price review.
- EPRA raised diesel prices by KSh9.90 per litre, petrol by KSh12.93 and kerosene by KSh28.49.
- Karakacha says higher operating costs have forced operators to adjust fares, with the changes expected to take effect immediately.
- He criticised President William Ruto’s administration over fuel pricing and what he described as unfulfilled commitments to public service vehicle operators.
- Parents could face higher transport expenses as schools close for the long holiday.
Matatu passengers could pay more for public transport after Matatu Owners Association (MOA) president Albert Karakacha directed operators to raise fares by 10% following the latest fuel price adjustments. He said the decision followed consultations within the association and was necessary to keep transport businesses running amid rising operating expenses.
Karakacha said the new fares were expected to take effect immediately. He argued that operators had to respond to the increase in fuel costs to maintain their businesses and make a profit.
“As the association, we have consulted widely and have told our members to increase fares by 10 percent because we are businessmen and we need to make a profit,” Karakacha said.
The announcement comes after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) raised pump prices in its October-November review. Diesel increased by KSh9.90 per litre, petrol by KSh12.93 and kerosene by KSh28.49.
Parents Face Higher Transport Costs
The planned fare adjustment is likely to add pressure on families preparing for the school holiday. Karakacha expressed sympathy for parents whose children were due to close school, saying many had already set aside money for transport based on the previous fares.
He apologised to affected families but maintained that operators could not absorb the additional costs indefinitely. The timing of the increase, he said, would make it particularly difficult for parents travelling with their children at the end of the school term.
“Today, tomorrow and Monday, schools are closing, and the majority of parents had budgeted for the fare. We are sorry for them because we have to increase the fare so that we can continue to do business,” he stated.
The MOA president also criticised President William Ruto over what he described as a broken promise on diesel prices. He urged the government to explain how it intends to reduce fuel taxes and ease the burden on public transport operators and ordinary Kenyans.
Karakacha argued that higher fuel costs affect more than matatu owners, since transport expenses also influence the cost of moving goods and accessing essential services. He called on the government to address the tax burden rather than leave operators to respond through fare increases.
His remarks add to concerns over the impact of rising fuel prices on household budgets. Passengers may now have to spend more on daily journeys if operators implement the proposed 10% increase.
Karakacha further accused the government of failing to honour commitments made to public service vehicle operators during talks in Mombasa in May. He said some association members were still facing auction proceedings by lending institutions after falling behind on loan repayments, despite what he described as assurances that the government would help mediate with banks.
He also questioned the status of a promised tax incentive for importing 100,000 electric buses. According to Karakacha, the proposed zero-rating of the imports had not been implemented.
The association leader claimed attempts to reach the Transport Cabinet Secretary had not yielded a response. He urged the President to revisit the agreements reached during the earlier discussions with public transport representatives.
“We have been trying to push the Minister for Transport, but he does not pick our calls. We urged the President to fulfil what we agreed during the talks in Mombasa,” Karakacha said.
The latest fare announcement now places the spotlight on how the government and transport operators will respond to rising fuel costs. While operators say higher fares are necessary to sustain their businesses, commuters and parents face the prospect of increased daily transport expenses.
