The funeral of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Nyanza pushed up the country’s inter-county travel costs, with domestic airfares and matatu fares rising sharply in October.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that the average cost of a local flight increased by 52 percent to Sh16,722.56 from Sh11,001.44 in the same month last year, as airfares on the Nairobi–Kisumu route surged ahead of Odinga’s burial.
Domestic air ticket prices also increased by 3.8 percent month-on-month, rising from an average of Sh16,106.09 in September, reflecting the sharp rise in inter-county travel by wealthy Kenyans and government officials flying to Kisumu for Odinga’s funeral.
The veteran politician died on October 15, 2025 and was buried in Bondo, Siaya County, on Sunday October 19.
Inter-county bus fares, which typically spike in December, also increased in October as tens of thousands of mourners, alongside dignitaries, travelled to the funeral.
“The cost of international flights declined by 0.6 percent, while prices of petrol and diesel remained unchanged. In contrast, country bus and matatu fares for travel between towns increased by 1.4 percent,” said KNBS Director-General Macdonald Obudho in the October Consumer Price Index and Inflation Report.
Air fares
Following Odinga’s death, most flights were fully booked throughout the weekend as mourners and political delegations prepared to travel to Nyanza for the final ceremonies. Some airlines, such as Kenya Airways, had to increase their flight frequencies.
Buses on the Nairobi–Siaya route were also fully booked, with some transport companies adding extra services.
A spot check by Business Daily showed that one-way air tickets on major carriers ranged from Sh18,000 to Sh23,000 — almost double the usual price of Sh8,000 to Sh10,000 for this route.
As of midday on Thursday October 16, a one-way Jambojet flight from Nairobi to Kisumu on Saturday was priced at Sh19,500.
Prices have since dropped to between Sh8,300 and Sh10,300, reflecting the cooling demand after the burial of the opposition leader’s burial.
Ordinarily, the Nairobi–Kisumu corridor is one of Kenya’s busiest domestic routes, connecting the capital to western Kenya’s commercial and political heartland. Fares usually range between Sh8,000 and Sh10,000 depending on the time of booking and seat availability.
Odinga, who died at the age of 80 while receiving treatment in India, was a towering figure in Kenyan politics for more than three decades. His death sparked national mourning and drew thousands to vigils in Nairobi and Kisumu, triggering a surge in travel demand.
Airline data shows that most morning and evening flights from Nairobi to Kisumu on the Friday and Saturday ahead of the burial were sold out, with return flights early the following week also filling up fast.
The rise in ticket prices pushed the cost of a return trip to about Sh40,000 — roughly double the normal average — highlighting how Kenya’s domestic air market remains highly sensitive to sudden, event-driven demand spikes on high-traffic routes like Nairobi–Kisumu.
Odinga, a five-time presidential contender, commanded a passionate following, especially in the Nyanza region, explaining the heightened interest in his funeral.
Hotels in the lakeside city of Kisumu also reported being fully booked in the lead-up to the ceremony.
Inflation rate
According to KNBS data, transport inflation rose by 4.8 percent year-on-year in October, even though the overall inflation rate — the increase in consumer prices over the previous 12 months — remained at 4.6 percent.
