Sacco launches first 14-seater PSV matatus for Mombasa bound route

Nyeri, Thursday June 1, 2023

KNA by Samuel Maina/Mercy Ndegwa

Travelers from Nyeri wishing to book direct tickets to Mombasa have every reason to smile after 2NK Sacco introduced three 14-seater shuttle matatus for the route.

The Sacco which boasts of more than 2,000 registered PSV matatus under its name currently operates only 50 -seater buses to the coastal city.

However, the Sacco has now allocated shuttle matatus to the route owing to growing penchant from clients who prefer smaller and more comfortable vehicles during the 640-kilometer journey.

Travelers who will opt to take the 14-seater matatus will however have to dig deeper into their pockets as the shuttles are charging Sh1,800 for the route as compared to Sh 1,500 normally charged by the buses.

Francis Kinyua who works at the Nyeri 2NK Sacco booking office told KNA that they decided to introduce the new fleet shuttles for the route to cater for travelers who have little time to spare waiting due to their busy schedules.

Kinyua said apart from seeking more clients for the Sacco, the launch of the Mombasa-bound shuttles will be a boon to businesspeople and hawkers who sell eateries and other essential merchandise like water and drinks to those travelling at night.

A trader Patrick Ndegwa lauded the Sacco for introducing the Shuttles saying this will save him the time he spends travelling on the road to attend to his businesses in Voi town.

“Previously, I used to do my bookings a week ahead since no driver was willing to drive to Mombasa with empty seats as passengers were hard to come by. But right now, I have nothing to worry about since it will now be easier to fill a 14-seater matatu as compared to the larger buses,” he says.

Ndegwa is equally elated at the new arrangement by the Sacco since it will enable him to ferry his goods from Mombasa to Nyeri more easily.

For Peter Gatimu, a boda boda operator who plies his trade near the 2NK Sacco booking offices, the new shuttles mean more pillion passengers and loads for them as compared to the past.

Gatimu says unlike in the past when clients with heavy baggage were scarce, the majority of people travelling to and from Mombasa pose an ideal opportunity to the boda-boda sector since they most certainly need their services.

“The introduction of these shuttles means more Mombasa-bound travelers will now be coming to this bus park where most of our customers are. This therefore means you will never lack someone with baggage or who wishes to be ferried from the stage to another location which translates to money for us,” he explained.

On her part, Joan Kinyua, a street food hawker along Gakere road said the new coast bound shuttles are a blessing in disguise as they mean more clients for their roadside dishes.

 Courtesy ; K. N. A