×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Join Thousands Daily
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download App

Pain on Christmas: No merry as cost of living crashes 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. 

Premium Article

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Fact-first reporting that puts you at the heart of the newsroom. Subscribe for full access.
Continue Reading  →
What you get
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimised reading
  • Weekly newsletters & digests
Pay via
M - PESA
VISA
Airtel Money
Secure Payments Kenya's most trusted newsroom since 1902