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In Kenya matatu or matatus (known as mathree in Sheng)[citation needed] are privately owned minibuses used as share taxis.[1] Often decorated, many matatu feature portraits of famous people or slogans and sayings.[2] Likewise, the music they play is also aimed at quickly attracting riders.[3] Over 70% of commuter trips are taken using matatu in cities like Nairobi.[4]

Although their origins can be traced back to the 1960s, matatu saw growth in Kenya in the 1980s and 1990s, and by the early 2000s the archetypal form was a (gaily decorated) Japanese microvan.[5] C. 2015, larger, bus-sized vehicles also started to be used as matatu. The name may also be used in parts of Nigeria.[6] In Kenya, this industry is regulated,[7] and such minibuses must, by law, be fitted with seatbelts[8] and speed governors.[9][8] Present regulation may not be sufficient deterrent to prevent small infractions[10] as even decoration may be prohibited.[9] Kenya has one of the "most extensive regulatory controls to market entry",[11] and a matatu worker can be pulled from the streets simply for sporting too loud a shirt.[12]

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They may ply set routes,[13] display this route,[14] run from termini,[15][16] run both inter and intra-city,[13][17] and may stop along said route to purchase or collect money from passengers.[18] In addition to a driver, matatu may be staffed by a conductor,[19] locally known as a makanga or manamba or donda. As of 1999, they were the only form of public transport available in Nairobi, Kenya, although in 2006 and 2008 this was no longer the case. Over the years, stiff competition[20] is being experienced from bus-sharing applications such as SWVL.[21]

At times in Kenya, the matatu has been associated with criminality or reckless driving. Writes one academic, "by the end of the 1990s, matatu operators were typically viewed... by Kenyans of all ranks as thugs who exploited and mistreated passengers and participated in gang or mafia-like violence."[22]

In the early 2000s, struggle over control of matatu routes by informal groups led to violence,[26] and contemporary headlines highlight the fact that matatu were perceived as unsafe. These include a 2002 article titled "riding in Kenya's taxi vans is [a] death-defying experience"[27] and another from 1999 proclaiming that the "menace of deadly matatus [is] to be curbed."[25] Mistreatment of passengers has also been reported and includes: "verbal and physical abuse, theft, hijacking, ...sexual harassment, beatings, and rape."[28] Corruption in the matatu industry is exacerbated by the prevalent practice of bribery, as matatu operators are forced to pay regular bribes to Kenyan police officers in order to avoid their vehicles being impounded and penalties.[29]

Matatu were explicitly deemed legal in 1973, but it was only in 1984 that even the most basic regulatory framework was constructed for matatu, when licensing and inspections were mandated.[5]

Today, Kenya has been described as having extensive regulatory controls, and a matatu worker can be pulled from the streets simply for sporting too loud a shirt.[30] Some basic safety equipment is required; these minibuses must be fitted with seat belts and speed governors.[31] It's unclear, however, to what extent such laws are followed.

Present regulation may not be a sufficient deterrent to prevent small infractions, as even decoration may be prohibited.[32] Laws prohibiting flashy paint-jobs and eye-searing colors were removed in 2015, and as of 2016 matatu in Kenya are brightly decorated with some operators paying upwards of US$2,000 for custom, decorative paint.[33]

In the 1990s and the 2000s, informal groups emerged managing routes and requiring matatu drivers to pay fees.[26] At times, competition over control of routes precipitated violence.[26] Today, an individual matatu must be associated with one of over 600 independent, government-registered groups known as a SACCOs.[34]

As of late 2010, Kenyan government policy is to phase out minibus matatu in the capital city Nairobi in favour of larger buses seating twenty five or more. Currently, no new matatu vehicles can operate in Nairobi, and the existing ones will be allowed to continue serving passengers until they become completely inoperable. It could take ten years or more to ease the congestion caused by more-popular smaller minibuses, however.[35]

Matatu, which are most frequently diesel vehicles, are frequently idling in urban areas, creating additional air and noise pollution.[36] In some areas, matatu drivers are actively discouraged from idling the vehicle while stopped, leading to fuel consumption and exhaust when the vehicle is not in motion.[36] Some companies are exploring electric buses as a potential replacement for the high-emission vehicles.[4] SACCOs like Citi Hoppa and Super Metro started using electric buses in 2022 that were BYD K6 leased by BasiGo. [37][38]

In the Netflix series Sense8, Capheus, a main character who lives in Nairobi, drives the matatu Van Damn, a tribute to Capheus' favorite action star, Jean-Claude Van Damme.A matatu is also featured in an episode of the seventh season of the Netflix series Big Mouth.[39]

Beloved by young and old alike, the matatu minibuses of Kenya, known for blaring out loud music, have become increasingly extravagant in their design. The privately owned taxis have evolved from being a mere mode of transport to a way of life, spreading from urban hubs to all corners of the east African nation

My friend recently sent me a TikTok video of a young man and woman dangling from the entrance of a fast moving matatu. The young lady - probably in her 20s- twerking away- much to the enjoyment of the young man, also probably in his 20s.

But Easy Matatu, a minibus ridesharing service, is leading the charge to reform such conditions with an investment from Renew Capital, an impact investment firm growing small and medium-sized businesses in Africa through its network of investors, the Renew Capital Angels. The investment will help Easy Matatu to grow its already successful end-to-end technological platform in which riders reserve a seat on a well-maintained and refurbished matatu through a smart phone app, and once aboard, their highly trained, competitively paid drivers take them on a faster, safer and more comfortable commute. Some of the matatus even come with refreshments and Wi-Fi.

A young boy takes a ride on the matatu bus with his grandfather for his fifth birthday. Along the way his grandfather tells the story of why dogs chase the bus, goats run from it, and sheep pay no attention to it.

Then we are on the move again but before I can regain my composure, the matatu stops again as suddenly. The tout is out and calling in more passengers into the already full matatu. From the rearview mirror, I can see him helping only the women into the matatu, by gently holding onto their waits and hips.

The matatu is on the move again but the conductor is left behind. I then see him run and jump to grab the iron pole by the door. He then swings his body into the already full matatu and he is hidden from my view in the rear view window.

But our driver does not stop nor slow down. Taking the advice of the Machine, he steps harder on the gas and we are flying towards the lone policeman standing in the middle of the road. When the blue uniformed officer realizes the danger he is in, he jumps to the pavement, cursing the driver and the matatu. In anger, frustration and shame, he throws his baton at the matatu and I watch in horror as the rear view window is smashed.

Before I can get an answer, the Machine is out, and the girl too. The few passengers left in the matatu are also alighting. No use arguing with these matatu people. We have to walk the few remaining blocks home.

I get off from the matatu and hurry to keep up with the other passengers. It is always safer to walk in a group especially at such a time. Then the matatu rushes off to town for the next group eager to go home.

Indeed, matatus with idling engines near schools are particularly harmful as children are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. One reason why children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution is that they breathe more rapidly than adults and so absorb more pollutants at a time when their brains and bodies are still developing. Children also live closer to the ground, where some pollutants reach peak concentrations.

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Methods: A literature review was completed to identify key issues and refine the scope of the study. The fieldwork included 20 semi-structured interviews with matatu drivers. All participants were male, with driving experience of 1-20 years. Thematic framework was used for analysis. Some unstructured observations on different road users and their behaviours were also recorded.

Results: Literature showed that the causes of RTAs in Kenya are multi-factorial, but that human factors play a large part. There is also an evidence gap concerning matatu drivers, who are key stakeholders in road safety. Fieldwork showed that the matatu industry creates financial pressures on drivers and an excessive level of competition, leading to dangerous driving. Corruption of traffic police appears to be a major barrier to improving road safety, as road safety legislation is not enforced, and bribery has become the cultural norm. The general public, including passengers and private vehicles owners, also cause problems by failing to understand their role in road safety and placing the blame on others. 17dc91bb1f