The Taxpayers Association of Kenya has warned matatu operators against hiking fares beyond levels justified by recent fuel price increases. The statement follows public uproar after operators raised fares by over 25 per cent. The group provided calculations showing operators are making exorbitant profits.
The Taxpayers Association of Kenya spoke to the media on Monday, April 20, 2026, urging public service vehicle (PSV) operators not to hike fares beyond justified levels.
"This is uncalled for, and we should not continue to really rob Kenyans broad daylight. So we are calling all the associations to observe this despite the economic challenges that come with the fuel shocks," they stated.
Using the Nairobi-Nakuru route of 160 kilometres one way as an example, a 14-seater diesel matatu consumes about 32 litres of diesel for a 320-kilometre round trip, assuming 10 kilometres per litre fuel efficiency.
Diesel prices rose by KSh 18.35 per litre from KSh 178 to KSh 196.63, adding approximately KSh 587 in fuel costs per round trip.
However, some operators have raised fares by up to KSh 300 per passenger, generating an extra KSh 4,200 in revenue for 14 passengers, far exceeding the additional fuel expense.
"If you do your mathematics rightly, matatus are making exorbitant profits and this is we don't think as a taxpayer association we want to encourage this," they added.
This follows the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) initially raising diesel prices by over KSh 40, later revised after VAT on fuel dropped from 13 per cent to 8 per cent, though operators did not lower fares.
The association also questioned why electric bus operators increased fares despite not being directly affected by diesel price changes.
The group challenged matatu saccos to publicly justify fare hikes with fuel cost data, warning that failure to self-regulate could prompt regulatory action.
"Operators should adjust fares upward only within the recovery margin, not beyond it," they said.