Ena Coach Opens Christmas and New Year Bookings as Seats Run Low on Popular Routes

Ena Coach has opened advance bookings for the December 2026 and January 2027 festive season, giving Kenyans planning upcountry trips an opportunity to secure seats before the holiday travel rush intensifies.

The bus company announced the availability of December bookings after a customer, Anderson Wallah, asked on its official Facebook page whether passengers could reserve seats early for a journey from Nairobi to Kaimosi.

In response, the company confirmed that reservations were underway and advised customers who needed assistance to call 0709 832 000.

The announcement comes as many Kenyans begin organising their Christmas and New Year travel plans, with popular long-distance routes expected to experience increased demand as families prepare to reunite during the holidays.

Screenshots from Ena Coach’s online booking portal showed that some departures were already recording limited seat availability, although the number of remaining seats varied depending on the route and departure time.

For example, a Nairobi-to-Kisumu service departing at 10:30 pm on December 22 was listed with only five seats remaining on a luxury bus.

A separate 9:00 am service from Nairobi to Mbale had eight seats left, indicating that travellers considering those particular departures had fewer options available at the time the booking information was checked.

However, not every service was close to selling out. Another Nairobi-to-Kisumu departure scheduled for 10:00 pm still had 46 seats available, demonstrating that passengers could find different levels of availability by comparing departure times.

The fares displayed on the booking portal ranged from KSh 1,800 to KSh 3,000, depending on the route and service category. Travellers should confirm the applicable fare and remaining seats on their preferred journey before making payment, as booking information can change.

The early opening of reservations gives passengers an opportunity to plan ahead rather than wait until the final days before Christmas, when demand for popular travel dates may make preferred departure times and seats harder to secure.

The festive period traditionally brings increased movement between Nairobi and towns across western Kenya and other parts of the country as workers, students and families travel home for the holidays.

Some social media users also indicated that demand for Christmas travel was already building. One commenter wrote that seats for December 25 were nearly full after managing to secure a reservation, reflecting concerns among passengers about waiting too long to book.

For those planning to travel around Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve or the beginning of January, checking availability early could help them compare services and choose suitable departure times.

Passengers can check Ena Coach’s official booking channels or contact the company directly for confirmation of routes, fares, departure times and available seats before completing a reservation.

With December approaching, travellers intending to use the service may benefit from finalising their plans early, particularly if they need to travel on a specific date or prefer a particular class of bus.