Residents of Langalanga Estate in Nakuru got a unique Christmas offer this year from unexpected quarters.
This is following the emergence of a new matatu Sacco that is set to offer stiff competition to the existing Kanu Street Travelers Sacco, (KST).
The lucky residents who normally pay Sh 40 to travel from town to the estate got a sweet surprise when the Sacco started with an introductory price of Sh 30. Later, the fare went down to Sh 20 attracting a huge number of customers especially those who regularly ply the route.
One woman who carries a dressmaking business at Pondamali and is a regular commuter along the route had this to say about the new Sacco.
“These people have definitely come at the right time. We always experience fare hikes during the festive season. It is a good thing that this year fares have actually come down. I am always plying this route to buy materials and for me, a shilling saved is always a shilling earned,” said Wanjiru Ndirangu the dressmaker.
The new Sacco, Coolio Langalanga Travelers Ltd is plying all the routes covered by KST. Due to a conflict that had erupted between the two Saccos, they have been forced to issue new route numbers for their vehicles.
For Pondamali, it is route 125, for Zakayo’s normally route 46, they are using 124 and for route 48 its 126.
When this writer spoke to the three young touts she found manning the stage which is next to the Nakuru Velvet Center shop along the Langalanga road, one said, “Competition is always a good thing for the consumer. Residents of Langalanga have been oppressed for a long time and with the coming in of our Sacco, we hope our competitors will also bring their prices down.”
So far, the Sacco does not have a lot of vehicles but the three were optimistic that with time, more will register with their Sacco.