• As Kenyans bear the burden of outrageous fares and hefty rent, many hold onto the promise that things would change. But the situation remains the same for the moment: early mornings, overcrowded buses, tight budgets, and endless hustle for survival in a country where mere survival is becoming more expensive.

Many entrepreneurs and employees in urban areas in Kenya are caught in debt cycles, spending money on transport and rent. While the cost of living rises, salaries remain stagnant, challenging survival.

The struggle to afford such necessities usually leaves little for savings and personal development. Since early morning, bus stops around the country have been full of laborers rushing to their destinations.

It's the same story in major cities, where transport fares go up, getting more expensive by the day.

A month's transport costs can be as much as Ksh 15,000—nearly equivalent to rent—leaving massive financial burdens on employees. Matatus, boda bodas, and taxis raise fares due to rising fuel prices, unpredictable jams, and inflation.

Another major headache is accessing affordable housing. Despite government efforts to force developers to construct affordable housing, most Kenyans are compelled to rent housing in which landlords increase rent charges almost yearly.

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Landlords attribute their demand for hikes in rent to increased land prices, maintenance fees, or inflation. When tenants cannot afford this, they opt to relocate to cheaper areas, which adds up to their transport cost, making savings a mere possibility.

Most Kenyan workers earn between Ksh 20,000 and Ksh 50,000 per month, but rent and transport consume 50-70% of that. After these expenses are paid, what is left is for food, electricity, school fees, and miscellaneous expenses.

It is worse for the small-scale entrepreneurs and the casual laborers, whose means of livelihood depend on their daily earnings. They walk far in order to save fare, and others shift their businesses closer to home in a bid to save costs.

According to experts, long-term solutions should be implemented to address the transport and housing crisis in Kenya. Upgrading and expanding public transport, regulating rent increases, and investing in affordable housing could provide relief.

Affordable housing developments would enable tenants to end the vicious cycle of escalating rent.

As Kenyans bear the burden of outrageous fares and hefty rent, many hold onto the promise that things would change. But the situation remains the same for the moment: early mornings, overcrowded buses, tight budgets, and endless hustle for survival in a country where mere survival is becoming more expensive.