City Affairs

Eastleigh's festive shoppers stranded following matatu shortage

Passengers stranded along Yusuf Haji street. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

By Abdirahman Khalif | Tuesday, December 5, 2023

A scarcity of matatus left thousands stranded on Yusuf Haji Street on Tuesday, intensifying the Christmas shopping frenzy.

A scarcity of matatus left thousands stranded on Yusuf Haji Street on Tuesday, intensifying the Christmas shopping frenzy. Unlike normal days when the street is full of matatus, there was a noticeable silence today, causing distress among commuters and shoppers.

The current surge in visitors to Eastleigh, drawn by the festive season's shopping opportunities, has overwhelmed the transport infrastructure. Yusuf Haji Street, usually full of matatus, was notably devoid of these public transportation vehicles, leaving many waiting for a ride to their destinations.

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Passengers scrambling for a matatu along Yusuf Haji Street (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

The dire shortage sparked intense competition among Kenyans vying for the limited number of available matatus. Commuters, accustomed to paying a standard fare of 50 Kenyan shillings to Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD), were now confronted with fares ballooning to 80 shillings due to the scarcity.

Ndugu Njuguna, a 34-year-old matatu driver, shared his perspective with Eastleigh Voice, expressing the overwhelming demand for transportation services. "There are so many travelers. It's overwhelming, really," remarked Njuguna, highlighting the unprecedented surge in demand.

Customers, eager to secure transportation, swarmed the few matatus that managed to arrive, filling them swiftly without caring about the almost doubled fares.

The unanticipated shortfall of matatus left individuals stranded, unable to navigate through the vibrant hub renowned for its shopping frenzy, especially during festive periods.

"Surely we will not be sleeping here; I hope more matatus come," remarked Caroline Keye, a mother of three who came to buy new stock for her shop in Matuu.

With Christmas fast approaching, concerns loom over the persistence of this transportation crisis.