Issue 496(leisure)

Queenie Chow TranslatorRaymond Chow
Decorated matatu in Nairobi on the route to Rongai
For God so love the world that He gave
his only begotten Son the preacher yelled
on top of the many voices in the middle of an
extremely noisy matatu bus.
Whilst in a secular society, we may turn
around and give a be-careful-because-thisis-religion-in-public-space
look to our friend,
this preacher has not seemed to attract any
attention of the locals on this matatu bus.
Suddenly, the bus screeched a stop and the
driver dashed out of his seat aggressively
bashing an alighted passenger on the side of
the bus. It appears that such passenger has
not obeyed the order of the ticket conductor
and attempted to disembark at an illegal spot
of the road. While the busload of passengers
nervously examinedthe drama which has
erupted, the passionate preacher had ran out
to break the fight. Ultimately, the driver parted
from the mis-behaved passenger and the bus
continued its journey.
As the preacher boarded the busagain, he
says:May the peace and safety of the Lord
be with you all!.AMEN responded by the
entire bus at the top of the lungs all at the same
time.
This was a recent comicalanecdote of mine
on a matatu bus in Naiorbi.
Matatus are chaotic, to say the least.
Unquestionably, they are a culture on their own.
Matatus are Kenyas famed mode of
public transport. Whilst a true Nairobian never
stops complaining about thecitys terrible traffic
followed by an experience against a Ma-3,
this transport mode serves the majority of the
population as their daily means of transportation.
The name of matatuderives from a Swahili
colloquialism meaning "three". One explanation
is that the wagons originally pressed into service
as matatucould be fitted with three rows of
bench seats whilst other sources suggests that
three cents was a typical fare in the 1960s.
The vehicles themselves can be anything from
run-down Peugeot 504 pick-ups tobig white
20-seaterNisssan minibuses. All matatus will
have a driver and tout (conductor) whose job
is to fill up the van in record time by shouting
its destination and the fare required for the trip.
As an actuary, the most fascinating feature of
the matatu system is that the passenger fares
actually fluctuates spontaneously depending
on the time of the day, weather and the traffic
condition!
Another unique element of these public
transport vans is the art on their body.
Graffiti from pop culture, music icons and
contemporary topics adorn the sides of the
vans in a show of artistic prowess. The more
colorful the van, the more famous it is and the
more likely it is to attract passengers.In a bid
to outdo competition, some innovative matatus
are fitted with wi-fi connectivity and satellite TV
to lure passengers. Many matatus will play loud
music, others with the installation of LED lights
becomes a mobile discotheque.According
to local Kenyans, there are even matatus
which organises speed dating sessions whilst
travelling!
Undoubtedly, one could not have truly
experienced theNairobian life if they have not
travelled on a matatu!
L
31
ISSUE 496
23.9.2016
Van on a hiking trip where the window
shattered during the journey...in Kenya
the journey continues!
......