Some Kenyans who had initially planned to travel upcountry for the Christmas and new year festivities have been forced to shelve the plans over hiked bus fares.
Among the most affected regions is Nakuru, where the residents are now saying that the high travelling costs and bad economic times have pushed them into thinking twice.
Those travelling to Eldoret from Nakuru, for instance, are being charged Sh500, up from Sh300, with the same applying to those travelling to other parts of the country.
Kinyua Warui has been forced to cough Sh400 more from Nairobi to his home town of Ol Kalou in Nyandarua.
"The average fare is between Sh350 and Sh400 but I have had to pay Sh800 one way which is a huge difference," he told Hivisasa on Tuesday.
Another traveller headed to Nyeri from Nairobi, Milcah Wairimu was in the same predicament, having to pay almost double the fare. This has forced her to shelve her plans until sometime after the New Year.
"My burden is actually bigger because I have to pay for my boy meaning I am paying Sh1,200 when I would have just paid Sh600 in normal times. I will visit after the New Year because I cannot afford this," she lamented.
However, the case is different in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, where travelling costs have remained intact, a state caused by no increase in passengers for the region.