Comments on: Culture Guide: Matatus!

By: kmiani

kmiani — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:28:24 +0000

am kenyan… thats for a fact! and the greatest thing we have after corruption, is the matatu… one of our own greatest inventions.
find me another form of public transport in the world that matches this in terms of hip, hype, style and ‘fear factor’ then you are my hero.

By: shelli

shelli — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:59:24 +0000

My personal favorite was the matatu I saw last time in Kenya… decked out with huge faces of the following people plastered on the side: Celine Dion, Dr. Dre, and Osama bin Laden. Could you think of 3 more random people to put on the side of a van?

Rob- they have those in Guatemala. They are affectionately referred to as Chicken Buses… http://www.ixchelschool.com/photos/chickenbus1.htm

By: Gaciru

Gaciru — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:53:29 +0000

HAHAHAHA! being Kenyan and having traveled by God’s grace all my life…this article allows me to enjoy the ride even more….who needs an amusement park when you have the wonderful roads of Nairobi….another name for taut is makanga…and driver is dere….there is a matatu named “destination heaven”…thats how fast and furious they drive…BUT I LOVE IT!

By: Rob Yonan

Rob Yonan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:27:30 +0000

If matatus made it to the US I wonder what it would look like? Old school buses retro-fitted?
I’ll volunteer to drive. Anyone want to be my taut and shake down the passengers?

By: Aaron Elliott

Aaron Elliott — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:37:09 +0000

All right then indeed!

There is nothing like riding a matatu. After reading this post, I want to come back to Kenya just to ride in one again!

I also have the strange urge to crank up the stereo on my mini-van, get some rockin decals and a paint job, find me an obnoxious friend (of which I seem to have many), and see if we can make this mutatu think work in the States! We have an untapped market here!!

By: Dave Rod

Dave Rod — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:11:47 +0000

Haha – exploding camels! Wear a wet suit!

So I was intrigued enough by the HomeBoyz decal on the matatu above to look it up. Turns out they are a DJ team that exists to “keep the Krowds Movin!” Here is their stated “dream” from their website:

“America has had its chance, so has Europe and Asia…Africa is the last untapped market and our aim is to ensure that our motherland gets its props.”

All right then.

By: Denise

Denise — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:07:10 +0000

Brings back fond memories of riding in the buses and “rickshaws” in India!! YIKES!! Total craziness!!!

By: Barry Rodriguez

Barry Rodriguez — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:49:58 +0000

So funny. Today, just a few hours after posting that article, Pastor Fred and I were returning to Kibera when our matatu’s door broke AND it got a flat tire.

Apparently the grace of God had left that particular vehicle…

By: Brad Ruggles

Brad Ruggles — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:21:21 +0000

Unafikiri mimi ni mzungu mjinga? Ulisema mbau! Silipi hamsini…what a great phrase to know in Swahili. lol

I can only imagine the sights, sounds and smells you would experience trying to ride a Matatus in the city. What an experience!

Thanks for another great post.

By: joanna

joanna — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:35:20 +0000

Your next post needs to be on how to get around on an exploding camel! Complete with pictures.

Sounds like just getting across town is an adventure!