Sakaja-Loud music and graffiti on matatus is part of our culture

Matatu Graffiti has earlier been banned by NTSA.

• Sakaja says graffiti and loud music in matatus is part of our culture.

Sakaja says loud music in matatus is not illegal.
Sakaja says loud music in matatus is not illegal.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has said there is nothing wrong with PSV vehicles having graffiti.

The politician added that if someone does not want a matatu with loud music they can always hang around and board a matatu without music.

"This story of people saying music and graffiti on matatus is bad ni ufala mbaya sana. It's part of our culture, we grew up with mathrees, number 6 and 9. if someone doesn't want a mat without music let them wait for a matatu without and vice versa,"  said Sakaja.

 

A custom-built matatu can cost over 2 Million Shillings ($20,000). The graffiti art alone can range from 20,000 Shillings ($200) to 250,000 Shillings ($2,500) per matatu, depending on the amount of work and materials used.

While the cost is hefty, it is easily earned back once the matatu starts collecting passengers.

People will pay more to ride in a custom matatu covered in graffiti than they will pay to ride in a plain matatu.

A few years ago, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) banned screens, music, and graffiti on matatus.

During the ban, all matatus were required to be white with a yellow stripe.

According to NTSA, the ban was meant to promote safety and keep windshields clear of graffiti. It was also meant to control the matatu industry as most of the custom matatus were notorious for breaking traffic rules.

The ban was finally lifted by President Uhuru Kenyatta who termed the graffiti as innovative and a source of livelihood for thousands of youths. 

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