Passengers Injured as Matatu Overturns on Mombasa Road

As the Christmas and New Year holidays approach, many Nairobi residents are facing difficulties securing transport to their upcountry destinations. 

The annual rush to travel to various parts of Kenya has led to bus companies operating the Nairobi to Western Kenya routes quickly filling up, leaving many hopeful travelers stranded or unsure if they will make it home for the holidays.

Asha Akinyi, a Nairobi resident, shared her experience of trying to book a bus to her village in Migori. 

Despite planning her trip in advance, she was told that all buses, including popular services like Easy Coach and ENA Coach, were already fully booked until after Christmas. 

"I had hoped to travel on December 25, but now I’m unsure when I’ll be able to leave," Asha said, expressing her frustration over the situation.

Denis Okoth, the Nairobi Station Manager for Easy Coach, confirmed that demand is exceptionally high this year, with many passengers booking their tickets well in advance. 

"The demand is very high already, and we are fully booked until the end of December," Okoth said. 

He added that the company is doing its best to manage the influx of passengers, but the limited number of buses available means that not everyone can be accommodated.

As the rush for transport continues, some travelers have been forced to deal with inflated fares, with bus operators capitalizing on the high demand. 

This has led to complaints about unfair price hikes, leaving many people frustrated and struggling to find affordable transport. 

Additionally, the situation has sometimes resulted in chaos at bus stations, where passengers are left stranded for hours or even overnight due to the lack of available buses.

There have also been calls from the public for the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to step in and regulate fares during the holiday season. 

Many residents are asking that only licensed vehicles be allowed to operate on long-distance routes to ensure safety and fair pricing.

This Christmas travel season is proving to be particularly challenging for Nairobians, with the combination of high demand, inflated fares, and limited transport options making it difficult for many to get home for the holidays.