Research Paper on Matatus in Nairobi Kenya
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Nairobi which is the capital city of Kenya has a population of about 3 million people which calls for an organized mode of Transport. The ‘Matatu’, right from the time of its entry into public transport service, has been an arena of contending economic and political interests. Its entry in public transport in Kenya can be dated to the mid 1 950s, when they started operating in Nairobi and were considered an illegal commercial entity. VIC McCormick 1997).
When the ‘Matatus’ were introduced into the business, they faced harassments from the Nairobi city Authorities and the Kenya Bus Service, a major transport monopoly in Nairobi. It had to take a presidential intervention for the Matatu’ to break in the transport niche that was the domain of a multi national company working in collaboration with the civic authority. Following a visit by a group of businessmen to the late president j4zee Jomo Kenyatta, the ‘Matatus’ received official recognition when a presidential decree was given in 1973 (Weekly Review, 18 December 1998).
The decree allowed the ‘Matatus’ to carry fare paying passengers without obtaining Transport Licensing Board (TLB) and Public Transport Service (PSV) Licensing. Unlike e train services, the ‘Matatu’ Industry is privately owned and run by individuals, with the down of liberalization of the transport Industry in Kenya many individuals ventured to public transport which is currently a thriving business. A Matatu’ is assigned to almost every route within the city and these could be the normal Nissan 18 seater or the 5 seater minibus, which has designed in-built sound system to entertain passenger. The only bus company that operates with the Central Business District (CBD) is the beleaguered Kenya Bus Service and its sister Company Metro Shuttle (ceased operations May 2005). Currently Shuttle like minibuses with a trade mark City Hoppa are now operating in the Central Business District
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Nairobi which is the capital city of Kenya has a population of about 3 million people which calls for an organized mode of Transport. The ‘Matatu’, right from the time of its entry into public transport service, has been an arena of contending economic and political interests. Its entry in public transport in Kenya can be dated to the mid 1 950s, when they started operating in Nairobi and were considered an illegal commercial entity. VIC McCormick 1997).
When the ‘Matatus’ were introduced into the business, they faced harassments from the Nairobi city Authorities and the Kenya Bus Service, a major transport monopoly in Nairobi. It had to take a presidential intervention for the Matatu’ to break in the transport niche that was the domain of a multi national company working in collaboration with the civic authority. Following a visit by a group of businessmen to the late president j4zee Jomo Kenyatta, the ‘Matatus’ received official recognition when a presidential decree was given in 1973 (Weekly Review, 18 December 1998).
The decree allowed the ‘Matatus’ to carry fare paying passengers without obtaining Transport Licensing Board (TLB) and Public Transport Service (PSV) Licensing. Unlike e train services, the ‘Matatu’ Industry is privately owned and run by individuals, with the down of liberalization of the transport Industry in Kenya many individuals ventured to public transport which is currently a thriving business. A Matatu’ is assigned to almost every route within the city and these could be the normal Nissan 18 seater or the 5 seater minibus, which has designed in-built sound system to entertain passenger. The only bus company that operates with the Central Business District (CBD) is the beleaguered Kenya Bus Service and its sister Company Metro Shuttle (ceased operations May 2005). Currently Shuttle like minibuses with a trade mark City Hoppa are now operating in the Central Business District
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