Somali Magazine – SGR passengers traveling from Nairobi to Mombasa will have to pay more for transport after a new review by the Kenya Railways that seeks to increase the transportation fee by 50 per cent.
In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon by the Kenya Railways management, passengers traveling from Nairobi to Mombasa will pay Ksh1,500 ($9.95) for economy class and Ksh4,500 ($29.86) for first class. This is, however, relatively high compared to the previous Ksh1,000 ($6.64) for economy class and Ksh3,000 ($19.91) for first class.
“The increase is informed by changes in the energy and petroleum sectors, where fuel prices have significantly increased, thus affecting the cost of our operations,” the statement explained.
The new transport review will also affect passengers using Nairobi commuter rail service and Kisumu and Nanyuki safari trains.
Kenya Railways management further said that passengers making advance purchases for the Madaraka Express will notice the fare adjustment effective Wednesday.
From Nairobi to Mariakani, First-Class passengers will have to pay Ksh4,310 ($28.60), Athi River to Mombasa will pay Ksh4,340 ($28.80), Emali to Mombasa will have to pay Ksh3,350 ($22,23), and Voi to Mombasa will pay Ksh1,320 ($8.76) as SGR transport.
On the other hand, economy-class passengers will pay Ksh1,500 ($9.95) for the Nairobi-Mariakani destination. Athi River to Mombasa will cost Ksh1,430 ($9.49), Emali to Mombasa Ksh1,100 ($7.30), and finally, Voi to Mombasa will cost passengers Ksh440 ($2.92).
A similar sword will affect passengers boarding the Nairobi-Suswa trains, where passengers traveling from Nairobi to Suswa and Mai Mahiu will pay Ksh250 ($1.66) while Nairobi to Rongai and Ngong will pay Ksh130 ($0.86).
Rongai passengers heading to Ngong will pay Ksh70 ($0.46), while the rest will pay Ksh130 for commuting between Rongai to Mai Mahiu and Suswa, Ngong to Mai Mahiu and Suswa, and Mai Mahiu to Suswa.