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MATATU (PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES)
| by REGINA | Friday, March 11th |  |
MATATU (PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES)
The Kenyan matatu are known for having some yellow horizontal strip, loud music and the conductors are sometimes rude to consumers.
Last evening I boarded a matatu home and when I reached the destination and was getting off, the conductor said to me, “Harakisha kushuka” (Get off quickly). And then I said to him, “Nikapanda hii matatu hukuniambia niharakishe kuingia” (When I got into this matatu, you did not tell me to hurry up getting inside). Then he looked at me and said, “Pole madam” (Sorry madam).
About 2 weeks ago, a friend of mine was leaving Pangani to town and so she had no loose money to pay for her fare. She gave the conductor one thousand Kenyan shillings (Kes. 1,000.00) and then the conductor told her, “Hauna pesa ndogo?” (You don’t have any loose money?). And she said, “Niko tu na hiyo.” (I only have that one). The conductor said to her, “Tangu asubuhi watu wananipatia tu pesa kubwa kubwa” (Since morning everyone is just giving me big money). And my friend said, “Wewe fanya kazi yako” (You do your work)
Sometimes we have matatu hiking prices and even overloading and we just do not say anything about it. When one person complains they are told, “Shuka tubebe mwingine” (Get off we carry someone else). What about when the music is too loud and you complain? You get the same answer.
While some matatu conductors are ok and do a good job, there are others that are not good and we have to remind them that it is a service that we have paid for and therefore we want the value for our cash.
Public manners
Regina, reading your blog i recalled two incidences:
one: when i was undertaking research work in kisumu last month, overloading is the order of the day. when i asked why we are sitting four people instead of three my fellow passenger asked me kwani wewe umetoka wapi? (where i am from?) the amazing thing is that we passed through 3 police road-blocks (from Kakamega to Kisumu)and the matatu was stopped in all but flagged off immediately. conclusion; the new matatu rules only appeal in Nairobi.Sad
two: when reminding or correcting or reasoning with the conductors and drivers of matatus we ought to be very careful. most of them are under the influence of drugs and alcohol and are capable of doing anything including being violent. i remember an incident where my pal and i had boarding number 46 heading to school in the evening. as usually they did not use the designated route reason: kuna jam (there's traffic)thus instead of following valley road they went through integrity center to come and join lenana road yet we were getting off at hurlingham. when we questioned and demanded for a refund so that we can board another vehicle to take us to our destination, the conductor slapped my pal. in short nobody in the matatu stood up for us, they all watched as the drama went on. off course we changed our destination and went to kilimani police station and the story goes on..................
Kenyans we have developed this attitude 'if it doesnt hurt me, its none of my business' such that the conductor will answer rudely an elderly person because they asked them to reduce the volume of the music and the rest of us will laugh about it because we are enjoying the loud music. so what does that mean, the conductor will tell this elderly person to get off or shut-up. but if all passengers intervene am sure the volume would be reduced or even the music turn-off completely.
lets be considerate of each other and stand up against injustices even if they are not affecting you directly. there is lots of injustices within our public service vehicles and they continue to happen and we are accepting them as 'normal' occurrences.