NAIROBI, Kenya, April 15 –Matatu operators will increase fares today following the latest fuel price hike, raising fresh concerns over the cost of living.
Speaking during an interview, Matatu Owners Association President Albert Karakacha said operators across the country are already consulting and will adjust fares to reflect higher operating costs.
“From tomorrow, we’ve been talking to our members all over the country and we know that they are going to adjust the fare upwards,” Karakacha said.
The move follows the latest review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), which saw the price of super petrol rise by Sh28.69 per litre and diesel by Sh40.30. As a result, a litre of petrol in Nairobi now retails at Sh206.70, while diesel costs Sh206.84.
EPRA attributed the increase to rising global oil prices, with the average landed cost of imported petrol jumping by 41.53 percent to $823.87 per cubic metre, while diesel rose by 68.72 percent to $1,073.20. Kerosene prices also surged significantly.
Karakacha warned that the burden will ultimately fall on commuters.
“We know the common mwananchi is the one going to suffer because they are the consumers we carry every day,” he said.
Diesel and petrol are key inputs in Kenya’s transport and manufacturing sectors, meaning higher fuel costs are likely to trigger broader price increases across the economy.
The price surge comes despite a reduction in Value Added Tax on petroleum products from 16 percent to 13 percent and the application of about Sh6 billion in subsidies aimed at cushioning consumers.
Kenya, like many other countries, has also been affected by global supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route.
