Matatu Fares to Rise After Matatu Owners Association Announces Increase

Matatus in CBD

Commuters across the country are set to face higher transport costs after the Matatu Owners Association announced a planned increase in bus fares starting Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

Speaking during an interview with a local station on Tuesday night, Association President Albert Karakacha said the decision follows the latest fuel price hike, which has significantly raised operational costs for matatu operators.

Karakacha noted that the fare adjustment is a direct response to the sharp increase in diesel prices, which rose by Ksh40 per litre in the latest review.

“We have been consulting, and we will push the prices for buses up starting from tomorrow because if you see that we normally use diesel and the diesel has gone up by 40 shillings,” Karakacha said.

He added that the association will engage members from across the country to agree on the new fare structure, with discussions expected to take place on Wednesday.

Despite defending the move as necessary to sustain operations, Karakacha acknowledged that the increase will place a heavy burden on commuters.

“From tomorrow, we will be talking to our members all over the country, and we know they are going to adjust the fare upwards. The common mwananchi is the one who is going to suffer because they are the consumers we carry daily,” he said.

The fare hike comes in the wake of a fuel price review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), which announced new pump prices effective from April 15 to May 14, 2026.

According to EPRA, the price of super petrol increased by Ksh28.69 per litre, while diesel rose by Ksh40.30 per litre. The price of kerosene remained unchanged during the review period.

“In the period under review, the maximum allowed petroleum pump prices for super petrol and diesel increased by Ksh28.69 per litre and Ksh40.30 per litre respectively, while the price of kerosene remained unchanged,” EPRA stated.

The increase in fuel costs is expected to trigger a ripple effect across the transport sector, with commuters bearing the brunt through higher fares and increased cost of living.