Travellers across Kisumu County faced prolonged delays on Sunday as thousands of passengers streamed back to major towns ahead of the reopening of schools, triggering congestion at key bus parks and a sharp spike in fares. Matatu operators reported an unusually heavy flow of travellers moving from upcountry areas to urban centres particularly Nairobi and other major destinations as primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools resume classes on Monday. James Omwa, Secretary of the Matatu Owners Association in Kisumu County and a member of the County Transport Safety Committee, said

Travellers across Kisumu County faced prolonged delays on Sunday as thousands of passengers streamed back to major towns ahead of the reopening of schools, triggering congestion at key bus parks and a sharp spike in fares. Matatu operators reported an unusually heavy flow of travellers moving from upcountry areas to urban centres particularly Nairobi and other major destinations as primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools resume classes on Monday. James Omwa, Secretary of the Matatu Owners Association in Kisumu County and a member of the County Transport Safety Committee, said the surge in passenger numbers had stretched available capacity, compelling operators to deploy additional vehicles. “There is a heavy influx of passengers today,” Omwa said. “We are appealing to drivers, conductors and passengers to strictly comply with all traffic regulations as advised by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).” He urged vehicle owners to ensure all units on the road are roadworthy, fitted with functional speed limiters that transmit data to NTSA systems, equipped with working seat belts, and operated by properly licensed drivers. Omwa also cautioned against speeding, driver fatigue and drunk driving, noting that the law limits driving hours to a maximum of eight hours per day. With thousands of students expected to report back to school, Omwa appealed to parents to verify that vehicles transporting their children are duly licensed and well maintained details he said can be checked using the NTSA mobile application. The travel rush has also pushed fares upward, largely due to one-way traffic patterns, with few passengers travelling from Nairobi to upcountry destinations. To meet demand, operators have been forced to bring in additional vehicles, including some town service units from Nairobi. “As a result, fares that previously stood at about Sh1,500 have risen to between Sh2,000 and Sh2,300 an increase of roughly Sh500 to Sh700,” Omwa said, adding that most vehicles offering advance bookings are fully booked until January 15. At the Kisumu main bus terminus, passengers were left waiting for hours to secure transport. One trader, Mirable Grave, who was travelling to Narok, said she arrived at the bus park at around 9 a.m. but was still stranded several hours later. “I am still waiting for the bus. It is now 2 p.m. We have been told the bus is on its way, and we are hoping it arrives so that we can finally travel,” she said. Despite operators running trips both in the morning and evening, congestion at bus parks remained high, with travellers scrambling for limited seats. Omwa said matatu operators support ongoing multi-agency operations involving the NTSA, the National Police Service and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission aimed at enhancing road safety and curbing corruption. He urged all road users to adhere to traffic rules, citing a worrying rise in road fatalities recorded in December. “We want everyone especially our children returning to school to arrive safely at their destinations,” Omwa said.

School Reopening Triggers Travel Chaos in Kisumu as Fares Surge and Bus Parks Overflow

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