As the previous year’s festive season unfolded, Nairobians inundated social media with a cascade of selfies, capturing the annual pilgrimage to the Coast for joyous celebrations. Pictures abounded of families reveling in the sun, sea, and madafu on Mombasa beaches.
However, the narrative took a stark turn come January, as the harsh realities of life and the challenges of 2024 began to cast a shadow. The idyllic days spent with loved ones during the holidays metamorphosed into a nightmarish return to the city, marred by the escalating cost of living. City dwellers who had embarked on journeys to spend Christmas with their families in the villages found themselves grappling with the harsh truth upon their return.
The SGR Madaraka Express fares, once set at Sh1,000 for economy class and Sh3,000 for first class, promptly surged to Sh1,500 and Sh4,500 per person, respectively.
The Nairobian spoke with two households from the city now dwelling in the village, shedding light on the challenges they face after partaking in Christmas and New Year festivities.
Zawadi Bicho, a resident of Malindi town and a mother of six, made the journey to Kakuyuni village to celebrate Christmas with her extended family. However, she now finds herself financially strained and unable to return to the city due to the exorbitant fare.
Living in Mombasa Town with her family, Zawadi is compelled to extend her stay in the village, awaiting a reduction in transportation costs. The fare from Mombasa to her village in Kakuyuni, Malindi, has surged from Sh600 to Sh1,500.
“I couldn’t afford Christmas and New Year clothes for my children, and now I’m stranded here. My eldest daughter is expected to join junior secondary school next week, and I have no money to buy her school uniform. So, I don’t know what to do,” laments Zawadi.
She has informed her family that they cannot afford transportation back, necessitating an extension of their village stay. “I cannot afford to buy anything extra this New Year because we spent almost what we had on Christmas,” Zawadi adds.
Kahunda Kahindi, another resident who spent Christmas in the village, recounts celebrations on a shoestring budget. “We had to cut down on food and children’s clothes because we couldn’t afford to buy anything beyond the bare essentials. It’s just heartbreaking, really,” expresses Kahunda.
