Matatu Owners Association confirms plan to hike fare after fuel price increase
By Emmanuel Rono, April 15, 2026Matatu Owners Association President Albert Karakacha has announced that the prices of bus fares will increase starting Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Speaking during an interview with a local station on Tuesday night, April 15, 2026, Karakacha said the commuters across the country should brace for higher transport costs after matatu operators announced plans to raise fares following the latest fuel price increase.
Karakacha stated that this decision comes in direct response to newly announced fuel prices, which see diesel costs rising by Ksh40.
“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.
Common Mwananchi to suffer
He noted that the association will on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, have consultations with association members from across the country to discuss the new prices.
The association maintains that the hike is necessary for operators, but they acknowledged the significant financial burden this will place on the public.
The president noted that the common mwananchi will be the most affected, as consumers will ultimately bear the burden of the increased travel costs.
PHOTO/Charles Mathai
“ From tomorrow, we will be talking to our members all over the country, and we know that they are going to adjust the fair to go up. We know that the common mwananchi is the one going to suffer because he’s the consumer because they are the ones who we normally carry and they are the ones who are going to suffer,” Karakacha said.
EPRA new prices
In a press release on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, EPRA released new fuel prices to be in force from April 15 to May 14, 2026.
According to the regulator, the price of Super Petrol has increased by Ksh28.69 per litre, while Diesel has gone up by Ksh40.30 per litre.
However, the price of kerosene remains unchanged during the review period.
“In the period under review, the maximum allowed petroleum pump prices for Super Petrol and Diesel increased by KSHs.28.69/litre and KSHs.40.30/litre respectively, while the price of Kerosene remained unchanged,” EPRA noted.