The village rush: Kenyans race to secure Christmas travel tickets

 

As the festive season draws near, long-distance bus companies are once again experiencing a surge in bookings, with Kenyans making travel arrangements to reunite with their families upcountry.

At major booking offices in Nairobi such as Easy Coach and Guardian Angel, travellers are already reserving seats for destinations across the country especially along the busy Western Kenya and Nyanza routes. For many, the December journey home remains a cherished tradition that marks the end of the year.

“We’ve started receiving many advance bookings as people prepare to travel home for Christmas,” says David Ogolla, an Easy Coach official.

“Some routes like Kisumu and Busia tend to fill up quickly every year around this time.”

For frequent village travellers, early booking has become an annual ritual meant to avoid last-minute hustle and fare hikes.
“Last year I waited until mid-December and couldn’t get a seat,” says John Barasa, a Nairobi resident heading to Kakamega.

“This time I’ve booked early to avoid the rush.”

Others are motivated by comfort and convenience.
“I’m traveling to Migori,” says a university student.