NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 15 — Matatu operators have announced immediate fare increases following a sharp rise in fuel prices, setting the stage for higher transport costs for commuters across the country.

📻 Breaking It Down

Matatu owners’ association boss Albert Karakacha said operators would raise fares in response to the latest adjustments announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), citing the impact of rising fuel costs on public transport operations.

Karakacha said operators would pass the additional costs on to passengers, warning that the latest fuel price increase had added to the financial strain on an industry already grappling with high operating costs.

He appealed to President William Ruto to honour his earlier pledge to keep diesel prices low.

📌 What You Need to Know

The fare adjustments come after EPRA raised the price of Super Petrol by Sh12.93 per litre, diesel by Sh9.90 and kerosene by Sh28.49 in its latest monthly review, with the new rates taking effect on October 15 and remaining in force until November 14, 2026.

The diesel increase is particularly significant for the public transport sector, where operators rely on the fuel to run many of the vehicles serving commuters.

Higher fuel costs could also feed into the prices of goods and other essential services as businesses pass on increased transportation expenses to consumers.

The latest increases have also drawn criticism from the Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK), which has questioned EPRA’s pricing calculations and called for greater transparency in the determination of pump prices.

In a statement issued on October 15 under its newly appointed Director General, Eng. Edward Mwirigi Kinyua, the association said the increases in retail prices did not correspond proportionately with the reported changes in the landed costs of imported petroleum products.

“The Motorists Association strongly condemns the petroleum price increases announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), under its newly appointed Director General, Eng. Edward Mwirigi Kinyua, for the period beginning 15 October and ending 14 November 2026,” MAK said.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya