Matatu fares in Nairobi, route by route

After the 25% rise in April 2026, route 35 from town to Umoja costs Ksh 70 to 80 off-peak and Ksh 125 to 130 in the rush hour. Commuting to town and back every work day at rush-hour fares comes to about Ksh 5,632 a month.

Rules as of April 2026. Updated 17 October 2026.

Check your fare

One wayKsh 125 to 130from town to Umoja, in the rush hour

One way	Ksh 125 to 130
There and back	Ksh 250 to 260
A month to work (22 days)Two rides a work day at Ksh 128, the fare the game charges at this time.	Ksh 5,632

Route 35 runs via Moi Avenue, Tom Mboya Street, Outer Ring Road, Moi Drive.

Conductors set the fare on the day. These are the ranges reported in 2026; expect more on a Friday evening, in a jam or before a holiday.

Ksh 5,632 a month on fare, before rent. In GrindLife Nairobi you ride real routes from real stages. Can you make it work?

Play free GrindLife is a free life game on real Nairobi streets. The matatus in the game charge these fares.

Fares by route, from town

Ksh one way. A month is two rush-hour rides a work day. * Rain fare not reported: the game charges 2 times off-peak, capped.

Route	To	Off-peak	Rush hour	Raining	A month (rush hour)
7C	Upper Hill and KNH	20 to 30	40 to 60	50*	2,200
111	Ngong	100	190	200 to 500	8,360
125	Ongata Rongai	100	190	200 to 500	8,360
126	Rongai and Kiserian	100	190	200 to 500	8,360
46	Kawangware	50 to 70	100	120*	4,400
8	Kibera	50 to 70	100	120*	4,400
6	Eastleigh	20 to 30	40 to 60	50*	2,200
44	Githurai and Zimmerman	70	125	140*	5,500
45	Githurai and Kahawa	70	125	140*	5,500
17B	Kasarani and Mwiki	70	125	140*	5,500
11	Parklands and Highridge	20 to 30	40 to 60	50*	2,200
58	Buruburu	70 to 80	125 to 130	150	5,632
35	Umoja	70 to 80	125 to 130	150	5,632
11B	South B	40 to 50	60 to 65	90*	2,772
33	Utawala and Embakasi	70 to 80	125 to 130	150	5,632

Fares by estate

Ksh one way from town. * No fare reported for this estate: the band of the routes nearest it, an estimate.

Estate	Off-peak	Rush hour	Route
Westlands	20 to 30	40 to 60	11
Upper Hill	20 to 30	40 to 60	7C
Kilimani*	20 to 30	40 to 60	46
Kileleshwa*	20 to 30	40 to 60	-
South B	40 to 50	60 to 65	11B
South C	40 to 50	60 to 65	-
Mukuru*	40 to 50	60 to 65	-
Kibera	50 to 70	100	8
Kawangware	50 to 70	100	46
Mathare*	50 to 70	100	-
Kasarani	70	125	17B
Roysambu	70	125	-
Umoja	70 to 80	125 to 130	35
Buruburu	70 to 80	125 to 130	58
Donholm	70 to 80	125 to 130	-
Embakasi	70 to 80	125 to 130	33
Ongata Rongai	100	190	125, 126
Ngong	100	190	111
Karen*	100	190	-

Why the fare moves

Rush hour: conductors charge more when every seat fills, morning and evening. To Upper Hill and KNH on route 7C that is Ksh 20 to 30 off-peak, Ksh 40 to 60 at rush hour.
Rain: when it pours, fares jump. On route 125 to Ongata Rongai the reported rain fare is Ksh 200 to 500, against Ksh 190 in a dry rush hour.
Fuel: matatu owners raised fares by about 25% in April 2026 after the fuel price review, and kept them there when pump prices eased in the next review.

What it costs to commute

Twice a day, 22 days a month, at rush-hour fares: about Ksh 5,632 from Umoja, Ksh 2,200 from Upper Hill and KNH and Ksh 8,360 from Ongata Rongai. Off-peak, Umoja would be Ksh 3,300. For someone on a low salary, fare can eat as much as rent.

Questions people ask

How much is the matatu fare from town to Umoja?

Ksh 70 to 80 off-peak and Ksh 125 to 130 in the rush hour on route 35. When it rains, Ksh 150.

How much is fare from town to Ongata Rongai?

Ksh 190 in the rush hour on route 125, and Ksh 200 to 500 when it rains.

How much do matatus charge when it rains in Nairobi?

Often double. On the long routes the reported rain fare is Ksh 200 to 500.

How much does a Nairobi commuter spend on fare a month?

From Umoja, about Ksh 5,632 a month at rush-hour fares, twice a day for 22 work days.