Incivility In matatus

The matatu industry is one of the biggest informal industry providing transport services to millions of Kenyans countrywide. People traveling between towns use this means because it is convenient. however in Nairobi the case is different, city residents use matatus to get to and from work.

Most if not all of us matatu commuters desire to have peace and tranquility when we board the matatu. Our main objective is to get to and from work safe and peacefully. Many at times this is not the case, the setting and reception is just sickening. The level of misbehavior in some of the matatus is unbearable. When i get to a matatu all i want is to get to and from work quietly and peacefully, but what do i get instead?

Loud inappropriate music

Music is soothing and a form of entertainment, agreed, but when played at high volumes it seizes to be. It becomes a health hazard, damage to our ears. Instead of relaxing and enjoying my journey as i travel home or to work i end up with a headache from the loud music. As if the loud music isn't enough, to add salt to injury, the content played in the music defiles the purity of our ears. Its the kind of content that you can't listen to with a grown-up because it is majorly abusive and obscene.

Inappropriate music videos

Currently most Matatus are pimped up to look cool and relevant in this day and age. The common feature you will find is a big screen fitted at the front for visual display. That is good creativity, agreed. The embarrassing thing is the display of music videos that are obscene in nature. Showing a lot of nudity and dirty dancing at a setting where commuters of different ages are the audience. furthermore when asked to change the video to an age appropriate one the conductor answers in a rude way "sio lazima uangalie hiyo screen".  

Reckless Driving

Getting Home or to work safe is every commuter's prayer. But reckless driving becomes a hindrance to this prayer. Over-speeding coupled with carelessness of the driver has been the sole cause of the big menace that has claimed many lives "accident". I can only leave them with the quote "Leave sooner, Drive slow, Live longer".

Matatus help and save us big time especially those of us without a car, but they need to style up, be courteous, have a relaxing peaceful atmosphere for the passengers.

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