If your salvation is secure...

One of my favorite parts of living in Kenya was taking the matatus to get around Nairobi. These vans would take you basically anywhere for very low cost. Technically there is a limit of 14 passengers per van. However, on one particular trip we counted 24 all packed in there!!

Most foreigners have cars there so we were usually the only white people on them. Riding them not only gave us a sweet discount on transport but it really helped us to build repore with the Kenyans we worked with who have no other option but to ride them.

Today I found a website with good pictures of what they are like. The second picture shows a pretty typical matatu. The other ones they show are the more "trendy" ones and would sometimes even have like "Dallas Mavericks" or "Dr. Dre" on the side! Those ones too had really loud squealing mufflers. We didn't ride those very often.

Halfway through the summer I realized that sitting in the front of a matatu is quite a rush. If your salvation was secure you could sit up there and enjoy the ride!!

Here's a description from the website about what they are like:
Tatu is a Swahili word meaning three. Minibuses got the name matatus from the fare they used to charge back when this means of transport was first introduced. With time due to the use of Sheng [mixture of English and Swahili] they are known as mathrees among the younger generation. Today there is what we call the matatu culture. Matatus are not just a means of transport but a form of expression - a statement- which show energy, vibrance, attitude and creativity at its best in the young and middle aged of this day and age in Kenya.

My favorite one was called "Bobo Train". After seeing it around only twice all summer, I actually got to ride it in when I went to Wangechi's house! It doesn't get much better then that.