NAIROBI, Kenya- The holiday season was all fun and games—until it was time to get back to reality. Thousands of Nairobi residents who traveled upcountry for Christmas and New Year are now grappling with an all-too-familiar nightmare: overpriced fares, fully booked buses, and a travel headache that refuses to go away.
With public service vehicles (PSVs) stretched to the limit, desperate travelers are resorting to creative (and expensive) workarounds just to make it back to the capital.
Many travelers report that seats were fully booked as early as December 30, 2024, with the madness expected to last well into January 7, 2025, when schools reopen.
For those unable to find a direct ride, the journey back home has turned into an unpredictable, multi-leg adventure.
Others have reported taking multiple short-distance vehicles, piecing together a trip that should be straightforward but now feels like a logistical puzzle.
The holiday travel rush isn’t just about inconvenience—it’s also about cost and safety. The annual practice of fare hikes has sparked outrage, with travelers calling it an unfair, predatory business model.
Many are urging the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to step in, not just to regulate prices but also to crack down on reckless driving and unroadworthy vehicles.
Reports of overworked drivers pushing their limits to cash in on the festive rush are raising red flags. Passengers worry that exhausted, overburdened drivers could turn an already stressful journey into a dangerous one.
Getting back to Nairobi shouldn’t feel like planning a military operation, but for many travelers, that’s exactly what it has become.
With demand surging, fares skyrocketing, and buses booked solid, Nairobians are left scrambling for options—some safe, some expensive, and some downright frustrating.
