November 17, 2024

newsline

Timely – Precise – Factual

Meet Nairobi’s Oldest 14-Seater Matatu that is Allowed to Enter CBD

649 Views

A 14-seater matatu plying Nairobi-Kikuyu Town route is the oldest matatu in category of small capacity vehicles in Nairobi with access to the city centre.

KXL 197, a Nissan Urvan E23 model operates under NNK Shuttle Sacco. There are however other old buses along Kayole route but those ones terminate their journeys a distance away at Muthurwa Market termini.

The van operates at Tom Mboya Street termini and according to its crew, it is surprising how commuters, especially the youngsters find it thrilling riding in it.

Patrick Kuria alias Waria is the driver. He says venturing into matatu business with an old vehicle built in 1980s seemed an uphill task.

“We expected cold reception. We were just testing waters and our plan was that if any matatu Sacco accepted our vehicle we would operate from Kikuyu Town to Westlands” Kuria says.

However to their surprise they not only got embraced by matatu operators but also commuters.

“Passengers and passersby in town wanted to take photos with the van. Getting used to modern cars there was a thrill of a kind riding in this one. Most of these young people see these old cars in the junkyard so finding in good shape and operational they can’t hesitate to have a ride in it” he says.

The crew; Kuria and Mungai.

David Mungai manages the van on behalf of his family. He says it was a family van before they ventured into the sector.

On average it brings in a net of Sh3, 700 to Sh4, 000, a feat compared to Sh2, 000 daily they hoped to rake in when they ventured into the business.

“We draw a lot of attention on the road. Some people want to buy and pimp it for private errands. Police used to harass us but now they are okay with us. They even hitch a ride with us” Mungai says.

Initially it was owned by a parastatal before Mungai’s family acquired it.  They try their best to keep it out of mechanical problems because getting some spare parts is a big challenge.