Fares Hike for Covid 19 Panic Travellers – Kenya News Agency

Public Service Vehicles (PSV) plying various routes in Mumias West have increased fares by between sh50 and sh100 for the last three days.

They are charging sh150 to sh200 from Mumias to Bungoma and the same amount from Mumias to Kakamega.

Passengers travelling to Kisumu from Mumias will now pay Sh350 from Sh300 and Sh200 to Busia up from Sh150 from the same venue.

They have however complied with the directive that they carry eight passengers in the 14 seater matatu that is commonest amongst most routes in the area.

Most of them are also providing hand sanitizers to every passenger that boards their vehicle in   a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.

A spot-check by KNA Wednesday found many buckets of water for washing hands at  Mumias bus stop that had been put by stall owners at the locality.

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) operating in the area Nasio Trust is carrying out training on hand cleaning to travelers at the bus stop. They have put water in several drums with soap for use by the travelers.

The Sub-County Police Commander Mr. Paul Kipkorir has said that PSV operators found carrying excess passengers will face the law.

He commended those who have complied with the government directive and asked everyone in the transport sector to do the same.

The PSV operators however said that most of their daily customers who work in public and private offices in several towns were off the road.

By Catherine Nyongesa