Hike in air ticket fares causes public uproar in Mandera

Mandera Airline operators have been reprimanded for the unprecedented increase in flight fares.

Following a public uproar, a meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Dr Ali Maalim and attended by the county security committee was convened in Mandera town on Tuesday to address the challenges posed by the flight services.

While addressing the media, the DG said the surge in air ticket prices was unfair to the locals grappling with the transportation crisis following the heavy El Nino floods that destroyed the Mabdera -Nairobi road paralysing buses and truck services in the region.

He said this was an unfair move by the air service providers ordering them to revoke the escalated air fares.

“We are not different from the rest of Kenya, they must align themselves with practices observed by all air service providers in the country," Ali said.

Committee formed

In the meeting, a 13-member committee was formed to address the public outcry on the increased ticket price.

The committee comprises representatives from the military, the county commissioner's office, the county assembly, county executives and airline operators.

Deputy Governor Dr Ali Maalim addressing the press on 29 November 2023. (Photo: Courtesy

Abdihakim Dido a trader said the increase in the air ticket price was caused by the demand after the roads were damaged.

“Several people who were stranded in Nairobi and Mandera after the road transport sector was halted had no alternative but to seek air transport as an alternative," Abdihakim told the Eastleigh Voice on Thursday.

He said the air tickets doubled from Sh15,000 to Sh30,000 which he said worsened the conditions for the majority who could not afford them.

Abdihakim appealed to the national and county governments to intervene.

The airlines operating in Mandera include Blue Sky Airlines, I Fly Airlines and Freedom Airline Express.

A similar increase in air ticket prices was also reported in Garissa County after the Garissa-Nairobi road was cut off by the El Nino rains.