City PSVs cash in on election rush travel

City public service vehicles (PSVs) are cashing in on the election fever as passengers fork out twice the normal fare to travel to western Kenya.

A spot check in Nairobi shows the 14-seater matatu’s were charging between Sh1,200 to Sh2,500 last week as demand shot up ahead of Tuesday’s polls.

For instance, the matatus were charging Sh1,200 to ferry passengers to Kisii, Sh2,000 to Kisumu, Sh2,300 to Mumias and Sh2,500 to Webuye.

READ: Buses suspend booking for juicy poll travel fares

Buses, which were fully booked ahead of the General Election, normally charge between Sh800 to Sh1,200 to ferry passengers to western Kenya.

Some like Easy Coach and Transline Classic have, however, opted to retain the usual fares of between Sh1,000 to Sh1,200.

“We have been ferrying passengers to Kisii since Monday.

“We charge Sh1,200 and make can make up to 30 trips. We drop the passengers during the day and travel back at night for the next journey in the morning,” said Walter Moruri of Rasasi, a sacco on Rongai, Kajiado route now on Kissi route.

In the last two weeks, passengers have been leaving Nairobi for their rural areas ahead of the Election Day.

READ: KAM allays fears of food shortage during elections

ALSO READ: Post-poll hard times await Kenyans as subsidies end