The recent review of maximum petroleum prices by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPPRA) has forced public vehicles plying in Mombasa to increase fares on most routes.
The announced maximum retail prices will be from 15th September 2023 to 14th October 2023. The Prices of Super petrol increased by Sh13.96, Diesel and Kerosene increased by Sh21.3 and Sh33.11 respectively. A litre of Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene will now retail for Sh205.58, Sh197.93 and Sh199.54 respectively in Mombasa.
EPRA attributed the surge in prices to the average landed costs which have increased since July 2023. The prices are inclusive of the 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) as stipulated in the Finance Bill, 2023.
Mr. Hassan Athman a matatu conductor plying the Nyali-Mwembe Tayari route told KNA that he has been working in the matatu sector for a long time and it is his only source of bread and butter.
“Every time life keeps getting hard, but the recent increase is too much this time. When you inform the passenger about the changes, they are unperturbed,” he said
Athman added that it was an undeniable fact that the cost of living has skyrocketed globally owing to various factors. He urged Kenyans to persevere, work hard in nation-building and pray to God.
Most of the passengers, he said, are their regular customers thus making it easy to retain them despite the increase in fares. Other passengers have resolved to walk prompting conductors to fight for the few opting to board matatus.
The Nyali-Mwembe Tayari route fares have increased from Sh50 to Sh70 following the increase in petroleum. The matatu operators have vowed to continue increasing fares to correspond with the increase in fuel.
Athman said his take-home pay has been affected because of the high fuel consumption of his matatu. He pleaded with passengers to accustom themselves to the rising fuel prices, adding that they would be experiencing losses if the passengers could not familiarize themselves with the new fares.
The Conductor further urged Kenyans to embrace electric motorcycles and motor vehicles that have been introduced in the country. “This way,” he said, “we can help reduce the impact of rising fuel prices in our nation.”
Mr. Joshua Kamau a tuk-tuk operator in Mombasa CBD said that he has lost many passengers who have opted to walk due to the increase in fares. “I’m currently struggling to pay off a loan I took to purchase this tuk-tuk. Every day I pay Sh1,200 towards the loan repayment,” said Kamau.
Kamau decried that his disposable income has significantly reduced affecting household consumption. He appealed to the government to come up with strategies to control fuel prices.
Another tuk-tuk operator Mr. Boniface Musyoki said that life has become tough since the increase in fuel prices yet customers when informed of the new fares, are reluctant to pay.
By Shamim Musa and Jimmy Mambo
