Fresh travel chaos as thousands troop back to the city after festivities

Thousands of residents of Nairobi who had trooped to the villages for the Christmas and New Year festivities are struggling with the fresh headache of finding affordable means of travel back to the capital.

Many who spoke to Wananchi Reporting that public service vehicles plying the routes have been overbooked and overpriced – making travel back to Nairobi, and cities like Mombasa, a real hustle.

Timothy Onyango, a resident of Rongo in Migori, told Wananchi Reporting that he could not find a bus to the city on January 31.

“I had tried booking Easy Coach bus online the previous day, but found that they were booked to capacity. It was the same with ENA bus and even some shuttles,” said Onyango who had to pay Ksh2,500 to get to Nairobi, higher than the usual Ksh1,500.

Onyango said that the buses were fully booked right from December 30, 2024, running until January 7, 2025.

Many of those planning to travel are worried that the situation will worsen in the first week of January 2025 as schools will be opening.

Meanwhile, many of those returning to Nairobi, and cities like Mombasa, have had to be creative; taking vehicles plying short routes, before connecting to Nairobi.

Anne Moraa said she took a shuttle from Isebania to Kisii town, then took an overpriced ride in a PSV ride to Nairobi.

“I left the village on January 2 because I wanted to avoid the rush, but still I was caught up in the travel chaos," she said.

"It cost me a lot of money to get to Nairobi, paying more than double the usual cost,” Moraa told Wananchi Reporting.

Kenyans have raised concerns this festive season over the perennial practice of hiking fares, something many consider immoral and predatory.

They want the National Transport and Safety Authority to take action against such acts, and ban careless PSV drivers who put lives in danger by driving unroadworthy vehicles, or driving for long hours chasing the festive money, without taking a rest.