Kenya Insights

Tag: Matatu

  • George Ruto Pulls Thousands of Gen Zs to Launch Flashy Sh14 Million Matatu ‘Mood’ at KICC

    George Ruto Pulls Thousands of Gen Zs to Launch Flashy Sh14 Million Matatu ‘Mood’ at KICC

    Nairobi, July 19, 2025 – George Kimutai Ruto, son of President William Ruto, attracted thousands of Gen Z Nairobians to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Friday for the grand unveiling of his latest matatu, “Mood.”

    The event, featuring music, celebrity DJs, and a prayer session, brought Nairobi’s CBD to a standstill and reinforced George’s growing reputation as a youth culture icon.

    The launch of Mood, a Ksh14 million matatu that exemplifies Nairobi’s vibrant transport culture, was a spectacle blending innovation, luxury, and street appeal. George Ruto has achieved something remarkable: uniting thousands of young Kenyans in celebration rather than protest.

    Mood represents a significant evolution in matatu design, featuring groundbreaking elements that signal a shift toward more experiential and eco-conscious public transport.

    The vehicle includes a customized Ksh1 million number plate approved by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), plush bucket seats imported from China, and a spacious 2-1 seating configuration accommodating 25 passengers.

    The matatu’s standout features include a state-of-the-art DJ booth at the front, 65-inch TV screens, solar panels, and a Ksh2 million sound system.

    Notably, Mood is Kenya’s first solar-powered matatu, with rooftop panels powering its entertainment systems and lighting, reflecting growing environmental consciousness.

    The KICC grounds buzzed with energy as young people endured harsh weather to celebrate Mood’s debut.

    The event featured performances by celebrity DJs, including DJ Pablo and DJ Trickstar, with popular radio host Julius Owino (Majimaji) from Ghetto Radio among the invited guests.

    A prayer session where a pastor anointed the vehicle with holy water added a spiritual dimension to the launch, resonating with Kenya’s cultural traditions.

    Videos of George and his crew in prayer went viral, sparking widespread online admiration.

    “George Ruto is doing something unprecedented. He’s tapped into what the youth want—vibrant, bold, and innovative matatu culture that feels like a party on wheels,” said Branden Marshall, a matatu industry insider and host of Matatu Galore. “This isn’t just a vehicle; it’s a lifestyle statement.”

    George, a trained pilot and President Ruto’s youngest son, has emerged as a cultural force through his matatu customization ventures.

    Operating under the Raptor Family brand, his fleet includes other high-end matatus like Manifest (also known as Moneyfest) and Matrix, all renowned for luxury finishes and substantial investments.

    Social media erupted with reactions, with posts on X describing the event as a “game-changer” for matatu culture.

    “Thousands of Gen Zs in the streets ushering in Mood. Ground mambo ni tofauti kabisa [things are totally different],” wrote @KinyanBoy. Others hailed George as a “unifying factor” for Gen Z and millennials, with some speculating that his appeal could influence youth votes in the 2027 elections.

    George’s trajectory mirrors that of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, who used flashy matatus to capture youth support two decades ago, propelling him from Makadara MP to Governor in 13 years.

    Political analysts suggest George’s ability to connect with Gen Z could benefit his father’s administration, which has faced significant pushback from young Kenyans over economic and governance issues.

    “George is what his father needs to turn the Gen Z tide,” said political commentator Jane Wambui. “He’s mastered the art of appealing to what the youth identify with—style, music, and innovation.”

    The event drew some criticism, with questions raised about the practicality of the Ksh14 million investment and whether revenue from Mood could justify its cost.

    The matatu may operate on the Embakasi or Rongai routes or be reserved for private hire.

    Safety concerns were also raised about the solar panels, particularly regarding fans climbing onto the roof during launches.

    As Mood prepares to hit Nairobi’s roads, its launch has already made a significant impact.

    Whether viewed as a business venture, cultural revolution, or political strategy, George Ruto has demonstrated he’s more than just the President’s son.

    He’s a trendsetter reshaping Kenya’s matatu industry and capturing the imagination of a generation.

  • “Matatus” In Kenya, And How They Got Their Name

    “Matatus” In Kenya, And How They Got Their Name

    Below is an image of a ten cents Kenyan coin issued in 1971, and below the image, is an article on how the ten cents coin of those times gave “Matatus” in Kenya their name:

    Coins.

    Above is an image of a ten cents Kenyan coin issued in 1971. There were also five cents coins in Kenya in those days, and the Central Bank of Kenya withdrew both ten cent coins and five cents coins from circulation, around the year 1998, after both lost value to the point that they were unable to make
    purchases of any kind. “Matatus” are Kenyan public transport mini-buses, and “Matatus” derive their name from the ten cent coin above.

    When “Matatus” became a key mode of transport in the City of Nairobi around the mid 1960s, they charged a fare of 30 cents on all city routes, in other words, three 10 cent coins on all city routes. Many of the Kenyan public transport mini-buses in those days were owned by individuals from Kenya’s Kikuyu community, and Kikuyus in those days, referred to a ten cent coin as “I’Ngotore,” the plural of ten cent coins being “Ma’Ngotore,” so when crews would beckon for passengers back in those days, they would call out, as the fare charged,

    “Ma’Ngotore Ma Tatu,” in other words, “The fare is 30 cents,” out of which, all Kenyan public transport mini-buses started being referred to as “Matatu,” in other words, “those vehicles that charge 30 cents on all routes.”

    There was pressure on President Jomo Kenyatta’s Government, from bus companies of those times, such as Kenya Bus Services Limited, Gathanga Success and Akamba Bus Services Limited, to ban “Matatus,” on the basis that “Matatus” benefited from unfair business practises, which is why they were able to to charge 30 cents on all routes. This was also before the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 by Arab Member Countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), against countries that supported Israel against Egypt in the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Kenya being one
    of those countries.

    Israeli Army General, Brig. Gen. Ariel “Arik” Sharon (1928 to 2014), Prime Minister of Israel from 2001 to 2006, led Israel against Egypt in the Yom Kippur War of 1973, making him a hero in Israel, and leading to his becoming Israeli Prime Minister twenty-eight years later in 2001. There was a sharp increase in petroleum prices in Kenya in 1973 as a consequence of the said Arab Oil Embargo of 1973. In other words, one of the reasons ‘Matatus” in Kenya were able to charge low fares, before the year 1973, was lowly priced petroleum.

    Another reason was that “Matatus” did not pay taxes to Local Government Authorities, nor to the Central Kenya Government, a key reason cited back then by the mentioned bus companies, regarding unfair advantages that “Matatus” had over bus companies of those times. “Matatus” are actually one of the reasons that eventually led to closure of Kenya Bus Services Limited, around the year 2000.