Residents rushing to make early bookings as Christmas nears

Reports indicate that long-distance bus operators began receiving inquiries and actual bookings for Christmas travel from as early as mid-November. 

Mr. Frank Mogire, a long-distance bus operator in Nairobi told Wananchi Reporting that buses plying the upcountry routes of; Malaba, Kitale, Mumias, Mbale and Kakamega, Nakuru, Sirare, Maseno, Kaimosi, Kisumu, Busia, and Mumias, Siaya, Kakamega, Usenge, Bungoma, Kitale, Mbale, Kericho, Eldoret, Malaba, Rongo and Homa Bay are already registering a spike in inquiries and bookings.

Many travellers want to escape the last minute mad-rush that has become a common headline every Christmas.

Lenny Musa, a resident of Nairobi, told Wananchi Reporting that she has already secured four tickets; for her two children, house help and herself.

“The first and second week of December slots are already being taken as people rush to book seats to avoid getting stuck at the last minute,” she said.

“I booked the seats on November 29, although we will be travelling upcountry on December 19,” said Lenny.

An operator at the Easy Coach ticket desk confirmed to Wananchi Reporting that there has been a surge in bookings, most of them being early bookings and inquiries.

According to the ticket operator, this year's festive season will not be as “low-key” as was the case in December 2020 and 2021 – when the pandemic subdued both local and international travel.

“The last two years saw local travel greatly affected because passenger movement was restricted due to Covid-19. This year is different,” said a long-distance bus operator based at the Railways bus station.