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Hundreds of travellers returning to various destinations after the Christmas Holidays upcountry were stranded for hours Friday at the Nakuru Bus Terminus following a shortage of public service vehicles (PSVs).

Matatu operators keen to make a kill from the passengers’ desperation hiked the fare prices, with some almost doubling the amount.

Those travelling to Nairobi were forced to part with of Sh500 up from the usual Sh300.

Booking offices in the town’s CBD were a hive of activity and passengers had to delay their journeys for over four ours due to lack of vehicles.

Elijah Simba, a passenger from Molo said: “My trip has been delayed for hours because I had been forced to wait for a vehicle that was still at the Nairobi so that I can start my journey.”

Teresia Wanjiru said she was surprised that the fare had gone up from Sh300 to Sh500, an amount that she did not have.

“I was surprised when I was told that the fare had gone up from Sh300 to Sh500 and I am now stranded. I have stayed at the terminus for hours, and even as we wait drivers should not over speed so as to make more money,” she said.

Keffa Wanyoike, the Mololine manager admitted that there was a shortage of vehicles especially those ferrying passengers to Nairobi more so because passengers were in large numbers.

He noted that the increase in prices was occasioned by the demand for vehicles, with some drivers opting to travel with no passengers from Nairobi to meet the high demand in Nakuru.

“As at now we have had to increase the fares from the normal Sh300 to Sh500 to cater for the wasted fuel,” he said and called on the drivers to be more cautious and observe all traffic rules.