×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Kenya's Bold Newspaper
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

No merry for many Kenyans as cost of living crashes Christmas party

Matatu touts at Kisumu Bus Park cheerfully loaded luggage onto minibuses on December 23, 2025, as passengers headed home for Christmas. [Rodgers Otiso, Standard]

High cost of living hiked fares and fears of a possible increase in school fees in January dampened the mood as Kenyans prepared to usher in the festive season. 

In Mombasa, some travellers said they booked their trips upcountry in November to benefit from discounted fares on most buses and trains. Yesterday, however, most buses had doubled their fares. 

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week
Unlock the Full Story — Join Thousands of Informed Kenyans Today
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimized reading experience
  • Weekly Newsletters
  • MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Already a subscriber? Log in