KENYA-VERY WICKED THINGS HAPPENING IN THE MATATU TRANSPORT SECTOR

A Matatu is the most common means of Transport in Kenya.Most Kenyans do not enjoy the privilege of driving themselves home or to places of work. A good number will walk others will use motorcycles but the majority will use the public service means commonly known as matatu. If you happen to have  used a Matatu,I am certain you got a story to tell about your experience.

Overcharging
A conductor will tell you your fare,let’s say to town costs 50ksh. You will board the matatu and half way the journey you will be asked to pay for your fare. Your change will be delayed till you ask for it and on getting it, it will be less 20-30ksh. Just dare ask why you were overcharged and all sorts of insults will rain on you especially if you are a lady. Matatu touts are indisciplined and very rude.

Over crowding and Overloading
This mostly happens to 14 seats matatus. They will carry an extra four people and you will look like bags of maize squeezed all through your journey and it is worse on hot afternoons when the windows won’t open,you get sweaty and hear different body odours oozing in the air. Carrying of Excess passengers is a common norm among Matatu operators.

Loud music
You want to make a very important call to your boss or it’s that day you are so tired from work and all you need is a quiet journey home then when the journey begins, boom!! The amplifiers powers full. By the time you alight the matatu you will have to go direct to the nearest chemist for some painkillers because of a head ache.

Explicit videos
The art of having televisions in matatus has greatly grown. But most drivers and their co-workers do not care what they show on screens. On Sunday when you are from church or family gathering with your kids,suddenly some Jamaican song shows on screen with scantily dressed females and your kids start staring.
The industry is rotten and new rules should be put in place to check such bad occurrences to save our kids and us as well.

Police conspiracy
The Kenyan police,unarguably one of the most corrupt in the world turns a blind eye to most of these crimes as they demand and receive bribe from matatu operators and criminals alike,even aiding and abetting armed robbers by giving them information on targets and sometimes renting out weapons to these armed robbers,all for sharing their expected loot together.I wonder what the government is doing as Kenya holds a record high crime rate.