On the morning of April 16, 2026 in Murang’a town, Ms Faiza Musa, 71, is discharged from Murang’a Level Five Hospital where she had been admitted for the past week over a respiratory condition. Carrying her small bag of personal effects, she walks towards matatus that would take her to her Mukuyu home—a distance of about two kilometres.
When she gets there, a tout beckoning her over to his matatu announces that it will cost Sh15. Ms Musa looks astounded. Not believing her ears, she asks him to repeat the fare. He confirms that it's Sh15, a Sh5 increase from the Sh10 she paid when coming to hospital the week before.
“Since when? I cannot remember when I paid more or less! Do not be like the government that keeps on adjusting prices every dawn. I will pay Sh10 and if you won’t take it, call the police,” Ms Musa announces as she hauls herself inside the matatu and takes a seat.
Mr Stephen Mwangi, who runs a mobile phones shop near the stage, witnesses the exchange and calls the tout. He hands him Sh15 and directs that he lets Ms Musa travel in peace.
Welcome to Murang’a town, the famed County headquarters that is home to billionaires who control the country’s securities market and where Equity Bank traces its humble beginnings.
Mr Kanene Kabiru, a director in Rwathia Distributors company — one of the investment vehicles for area billionaires — told the Nation that wealth creation in Murng'a is majorly driven by good bargains.
“You should not see this Sh5 fare hike as a joke. It is a very major happening…the stuff that should ignite protests. In a matatu of 14 passengers, it means commuters are collectively losing Sh70 per trip. If that route operates on average 100 trips, you can see the area commuters are burying Sh7,000 of daily wealth to an unbudgeted for crisis,” he said.
The new Sh15 fare that has agitated locals in Murang'a Town.
Photo credit: Mwangi Muiruri | Nation Media Group
“We are Murang’a because we make hard bargains. We always go for value for our money....We will always go for the best bargain. That is what makes life in Murang’a Town bearable,” said Mr Stephen Kariuki, a member of the Business Community Association.
The old Sh10 fare that is pictured in Murang'a Town on April 13, 2026.
Photo credit: Mwangi Muiruri | Nation Media Group
Indicator of more to come
More distressing is that bodabodas have also hiked fare to Sh70 from Sh50. Tuk Tuks are now asking for Sh30 from Sh20.
Township MCA Machigo Karina reckons the Sh5 matatu fare increase is a big deal as it's an indicator that other commodities like foodstuff could soon follow.
“The Murang’a-Mukuyu route is very unique. It serves a humble majorly population. Most on this route are either casuals seeking livelihoods in Murang’a town or patients or relatives going to check on people at the hospital. Any slight budgetary change is bound to distress them,” he said.
