Thika matatus increase fares by between Sh10 and Sh200.

An aerial view of Thika main bus terminus.

Commuters in virtually all Thika routes were slapped with fare increments of between Sh. 10 and Sh. 200 following the government’s decision to impose 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel products.

Those hard hit by the increment were people travelling outside the town.

A spot check by Thika Town Today on Monday morning revealed matatus had increased fare by Sh10 on Makongeni and Kiganjo routes with those travelling from Thika to Nairobi by 14-seater matatus paying fares raging from Sh. 120 and Sh. 150 up from Sh. 100.

2TS matatus and those plying town service routes only raised their fares for just Sh. 10.

Commuting from Makongeni to town now stands at Sh. 30 up from Sh. 20, Landless is Sh. 50 up from Sh. 40, while Kiganjo and Kisii is Sh. 40 up from Sh. 30. Fare from Ngoingwa is now Sh. 40.

Commuters heading to Murang’a will have to part with Sh. 130 up from Sh. 100, Kandara and Gatanga have increased their fares from Sh. 50 to Sh. 70 with those from Kenol and Kabati paying Sh. 40 and Sh. 30 respectively.

Kenya Mpya and Chania buses increased their fares to Nairobi by Sh. 20 from Sh. 50 to Sh. 70 and Sh. 40 to Sh. 60 respectively. Kenya Mpya also increased their fares from Makongeni to Nairobi to between Sh. 100 and Sh. 120.

The worst hit commuters were those heading to Meru for the fare shot from Sh. 500 to Sh. 700.

Matatu operators plying passengers to Nyeri and Nakuru are yet to alter their fares as they are still charging commuters Sh. 350 from Thika.