MATATU

Hi all,

How are you? I'm doing fine.
Today, I'd introduce you to one of social aspects of Nairobi. It's about traffic.

In one word, traffic in Nairobi is bad.
First, traffic regulations are practically non-existent. We hardly have traffic lights. Even when we have one, it is ignored all the time. However police here are very strict(at the same time the most corrupted) and you get arrested only because your seatbelt is not buckled, so drivers always pay attention to the figures of police officers.

Second, exhaust gas of cars smells terrible and is black. I feel guilty as well as disgust when cars pass me by, since many cars are second-hand Japanese cars. I think nearly 90% of cars are either TOYOTA, NISSAN or ISUZU's.

Lastly, roads are bad, too. My host's cousin studies civil engineering, and told me that construction companies make roads of worse quality than have agreed upon with the government, to make profit. That's why roads begin to have countless holes in several months' time.

The biggest characteristic of Nairobi, is small buses called Matatu. We don't have any train service and taxis are expensive, so without Matatu, no one can go anywhere. A Matatu has a driver and a conductor, accommodating 15 people maximum.
When it approaches, you need to recognize its number, and if you want to get it in, you give a signal to the conductor. It stops anywhere. You get in, and after a while the conductor taps your shoulder. That's when you pay. Most Kenyans are trustworthy, needles to say, and they rarely try to overcharge you. When you want to get off, you tell him, either by gesture or words. He drops you off if you tell him your destination in advance.

The fare is around 0.2-0.3 dollars, and drivers are said to earn much money. Some play loud music inside, and even DVD. Others are run by companies, clean, calm. People decide which one to take according to their mood, if they have options. Matatu reflects people's life, and very interesting.

See you then,
Kei