But matatu culture may soon be under threat from government bans and alternative forms of public transport. Jennifer graeff is project coordinator at the center for sustainable urban development csud. If there is a sector in kenya that mints billions of shillings everyday but goes unregulated is the matatu industry in kenya psv. University of nairobi school of computing and informatics paper maps illustrated by. The organization, issues and the future role of the matatu industry. Explore 126 listings for matatu for sale in kenya at best prices. Matatus are the informal paratransit industry in kenya that provide service to millions of people a day and are essentially the backbone. How graffiti artists are driving the matatu industry in. Hence the study is aimed at assessing the effect of cost of capital and capital structure on the profitability of matatu industry in kenya public transport in kenya and especially in urban areas is dominated by matatu vehicles. Matatu industry in kenya 2004 edition open library. Numerous complaints about the poor services provided by kbs led to the president issuing a directive in 1973 that declared matatu a legal form of public transport. The government seeks to protect its citizens from harassment, exploitation and mistreatment associated with the matatu industry. The lowdown on investing in the matatu business trevor lamenya 24th may 2017 09.
For example, drivers have been accused of failing to adhere to traffic laws governing other road users, and many. But matatu business is lucrative to those who are willing to take the risk and venture into the business. Published 2004 by institute of policy analysis and research in nairobi, kenya. The matatukenyas colorful carrier watchtower online. An investigation of the factors influencing the perfomance. Formalising the matatu industry in kenya uon repository. Stratified sampling method was used to draw samples from the selected active matatu saccos registered in thika west district by the ministry of cooperative development and. An elephant matriarch, a majestic lion, and a crimson sunset are vivid images that remain with the traveler. The matatu industry is part of the kenya private sector economy. The origins of matatu industry can be traced from the type of transport system that.
Every matatu driver has been in jail at least once, says james kariuki, a 20year veteran of the industry. It also involves pimping the matatu with modern digital display gadgets and of course the music they play is also aimed at quickly attracting riders. The technology modernising kenyas matatus bbc news. The digital matatus project in nairobi, kenya set out to test whether the.
An investigation of the factors influencing the perfomance of. The descriptive research design was used in the methodology. A bike rider is more at risk than a passenger in a matatu. Police search nairobi for jogoo road bus robbers according to one resident of komorock, there was an incident where conductors of mwamba once aided a woman who had been attacked and. Kibua1 institute of policy analysis and research ipar p. Axel fensom, gli manchester, for assistance with data analysis.
These privately owned sharedride minibuses form the bulk of public transportation. Feb 19, 2014 nairobis matatu routes, as researched and compiled by the digital matatu team a joint venture between columbia and nairobi university, groupshot and mit. Aug 22, 2017 a kenyan policeman boards a matatu after the vehicle was stopped for a traffic offense. Formalising the matatu industry in kenya university of nairobi. Apr 30, 2011 matatu industry in kenya a study of the performance of owners, workers, and their associations and potential for improvement by orieko chitere. It may not be wise to venture into it if you are tied up in an office job from 8 am to 5 pm. Likewise, the music they play is also aimed at quickly attracting riders.
Jul 20, 2017 matatu business is not hard to start as long as you have money to buy a matatu, pay for insurance, psv license and obey the michuki rules. Paper prepared on ipar policy brief on the matatu industry in kenya. Stephenson kisingu, ali howes, alana dave and the rest of the staff at the itf of. Josiah, joe, andrew, owiso, babu, martin, mary and kevin. The organization and future of the matatu industry in. Earlier studies by khayesi 1997 and kapila, manundu and lamba 1986 showed that employment of the. Nairobi bus rapid transit labour impact assessment 6 in october 2017 researchers from the university of nairobi and kenyatta university undertook participatory research among workers in the nairobi matatu industry to collect baseline data on the matatu workforce. Its versatility, however, has created some problems.
The new national transport and safety authority regulations had an axe to grind with matatu owners just recently. Sep 09, 2019 known for its uniqueness, kenya has witnessed a rapid growth over the past 1 years in the matatu culture, and were proud of it. This paper is an analysis of the matatu industry and offers a discussion of how its structure and networks may pose obstacles but also opportunities for transport reform in the capital city of nairobi, located in kenya. Institutions and business strategies of matatu operators. They exhibit colourful artwork on their exterior and interior, announcing their presence with thunderous music as they hustle their way through. The organization and future of the matatu industry in nairobi, kenya jennifer graeff project coordinator. However, the unregulated nature of the matatu industry coupled with gangs and cartels who extorted matatu owners and made it hard for most people to survive in the industry. The matatukenyas colorful carrier watchtower online library.
Despite the fact that this sector has been associated with crime and rowdiness, some elements of the culture exhibited by the industrys key players draw support, more so from kenyan youth. Advantages and disadvantages of matatu business venas news. Currently, there are an estimated 160,000 workers based on assumption that each matatu employs about 4 persons. Challenges affecting investment in public transport matatu industry in nairobikenya oira, a. With thousands of matatus operating in the city, there are some characteristics or rather types of matatu touts makangas who work in this industry and below is the list. Efforts to improve road safety in kenya achievements and limitations of reforms in the matatu industry by preston o. Javascript is turned off, or your browser is realllllly slow. Matatu business is profitable and can make you a millionaire, but you must have solid management skills to penetrate the sophisticated industry. Truth be said, the matatu industry employs hundred of thousand if not millions of jobs in kenya but both the national and county governments gets a meager fraction of the taxes and rates they deserve. Kenya that provide service to millions of people a day. While the cost is hefty, it is easily earned back once the matatu starts collecting passengers. A kenyan policeman boards a matatu after the vehicle was stopped for a traffic offense. The role, efficiency and quality of service of the matatu. Unfortunately, the sector has largely operated with minimal regulations.
The research, commissioned by the itf, consisted of interviews with 300. The astronomical growth of the public service vehicles, particularly that of the matatu transport cooperatives has created challenges of overcrowding in literally all towns in kenya. The term matatu is derived from a local kikuyu vernacular word mang. With an average of 30,000 vehicles, the matatu transport industry in kenya has transformed itself from the war remnant it was decades ago to a vibrant, multimilliondollar empire. Im 22 yrs managing my own food delivery business in nairobi, i was a rongai resident before i moved to south c,i save 4500 per day and i want to venture into the 33 seater matatu business by the end of the year. The matatus evolved from a quick and easy response to unmet travel demand during the 1950s to. Effect of financial management practices on profitability. The findings on the second objective which was to establish the benefits that come with regulation of the matatu transport industry, revealed that matatu operators have nhif cards, it also revealed that matatu operators take annual leave. In kenya matatu known as mathree in sheng or matatus are privately owned minibuses, although pickup trucks and estate cars were in the past pressed into service as these kenyan share taxis. Feb 05, 2018 black label kenyas matatu industry nairobi explorer.
Secondary data was obtained from official government documents, statutes and. Nairobis matatu routes, as researched and compiled by the digital matatu team a joint venture between columbia and nairobi university, groupshot and mit. Regulations in the public transport industry in kenya are in the form of laws and bylaws. The friends linked me with sellers of second hand matatus, says wanjiru and adds that in september 2014 she purchased her first matatu at sh270,000. Matatu culture in kenya beach holiday journey kenya. What you need to know about matatu business in kenya. Matatus are the informal paratransit industry in kenya that provide service to millions of people a day and are essentially the backbone of the transportation system.
Hi wambururu, thanks for the great information you are providing on your blog regarding investing in the matatu industry. Mordernization of matatu industry in kenya youtube. The passionate tout says colleagues in the industry noticed her determination and advised her to invest in the matatu sector. The government of kenya has come up with various laws and regulations for the public transport sector. Moving discos, moving museums and matatu menace are some of the phrases used to describe matatus and the culture at large in nairobi. The matatu sector in kenya has undergone immense transformation, from the unregulated, chaotic 1990s to a more client focused and fairly safe industry. The fall of kbs made it possible to run matatu business in kenya in a time where minivans were the preferred mode of transport. Finally it established that matatu operators prefer daily wage instead of monthly wage. Achievements and limitations of reforms in the matatu industry. On using cars that use less gas, thats for the matatu investors to make the switch and increase on the profits.
The matatu is a smallscale public means of transport in kenya. Jul 03, 2018 the matatu industry has undergone immense transformation from the unregulated,chaotic 1990s to a more client focused and fairly safe industry. It ineptly, just like its many regulations and directives, said that matatu owners wishing to participate in matatu business, had to hand over their vehicles to saccoscompanies. Matatu industry in kenya a study of the performance of owners, workers, and their associations and potential for improvement by orieko chitere. Matatu culture photos why we are the best urban kenyans. Shock of matatu crew breaking the law along moi avenue duration. The organization and future of the matatu industry in nairobi, kenya. However, in kenya studies have shown that public transport is not efficient thus.
Acquiring a matatu for the business requires a minimum initial capital of 500,000ksh. Black label kenyas matatu industry nairobi explorer. A visitor to kenya is never short of superlatives when describing his trip. The organization and future of the matatu industry in nairobi. How to tame the rogue matatu industry in kenya and create. One man is on a quest to document nairobis matatu culture before it disappears. Often decorated, many matatu feature portraits of famous people or slogans and sayings. A case study report dorothy mccormick university of nairobi winnie mitullah university of nairobi preston chitere university of nairobi risper orero kenya methodist university marilyn ommeh university of nairobi november, 20. The passenger road transport industry in kenya matatu vehicles dominate the commuter transport in kenya, especially in urban areas. This working paper is an analysis of the matatu industry s operations and offers a discussion of how its structure and networks may pose obstacles but also opportunities for transport reform in nairobi, kenya. The matatu, a smallscale public transport vehicle in kenya, is vital in both rural and urban areas for the.
Participants in the kenya transport research network. The two matatu saccos ply the komorock to town route and are popular with residents of komorock, kayole and parts of umoja and donholm. Known for its uniqueness, kenya has witnessed a rapid growth over the past 1 years in the matatu culture, and were proud of it. The minimum amount of initial capital you can expect to inject to get your matatu on the road is ksh500,000 assuming you buy an old van which has been used locally for several years. Matatu business is not hard to start as long as you have money to buy a matatu, pay for insurance, psv license and obey the michuki rules. The matatu industry has grown from 14 seater vans to minibuses and buses. Stratified sampling method was used to draw samples from the selected active matatu saccos registered in thika west district by the ministry of cooperative development and marketing.
Feb 20, 2015 hi wambururu, thanks for the great information you are providing on your blog regarding investing in the matatu industry. But the real problem comes the vehicle hits the road. Likewise, the music they play is also aimed at quickly attracting. Every matatu driver has been in jail at least once, says james kariuki, a. Efforts to improve road safety in kenya achievements and limitations of reforms in the matatu industry. Jan 20, 2020 matatu culture is a system where the matatus are often decorated in graffiti art featuring portraits of famous people or slogans and sayings. After independence, kenya had a well established public transportation service owned and operated by the government. Regulation is important for any sector since uncontrolled market place cannot produce behaviour or results in accordance with the public interest. They charged thirty cents at the time and the name of the coins in the kikuyu language gave rise to the word matatu.
Challenges affecting investment in public transport matatu industry in nairobi kenya oira, a. Matatu culture is a system where the matatus are often decorated in graffiti art featuring portraits of famous people or slogans and sayings. The metamorphosis of kenya bus services lthe the memetamorphosis tamorphosis ofof keny kenya bus a bus serviceservicess l lthe metamorphosis of kenya bus services limited in the provision of imitimiteedd in t in thhee p prrovovisionision of of imited in the provision of. Handing over of the matatus to the saccos under a contract. This is money one can use to buy a second hand matatu that has been on the road for 68 years. Oct 08, 20 the technology modernising kenyas matatus. Frequently asked questions on matatu investment 2015.
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