Matatu minibus

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Matatu minibus

***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: Topic
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

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A Matatu is a mode of public transport in Kenya.



A Matatu is a mode of transport in Kenya that falls between private transport and conventional bus transport. Matatus have fixed routes, but "unfixed" stops and time schedules. They stop anywhere to pick or drop passengers. They operate from some time after 5am to around 9pm.

We were fascinated by the colorfully decorated matatus and also by the "real africa feeling" (as one local put it) you get when riding matatus.

Regulations and Safety
With harder regulations on passenger numbers, enforced by the Kenyan government in early 2004, it is now quite OK (and cheap!) to use matatus as a tourist. The matatus are only filled with one passenger per seat and the numerous police checks on every road help keeping these 'new' security standards.

The number of people killed in accidents involving matatus has been dramatically reduced with the new regulations in place.

The word "Matatu" comes from Kisuaheli "ma tatu", which means "for three".
For three kenyan schillings one could travel on any route in colonialization times.
source : www.squidoo.com


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Share Taxi

Share taxis are the main system of public transport in many countries (especially developing countries) and are known by many different names around the world (see table). They often are privately owned and have an anarchic operating style, lacking central control or organisation.

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Worldwide use



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Things found on the way


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HAIKU


a proffered coin --
the pineapple vendor chases
after a matatu

Pineapples in Kenya


dusty matatu --
people breathing inside
to edge it forward

Dust (Swahili : tifutifu)


Isabelle Prondzynski


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matatus full
radio stations tuned
glued to the TV

Dorine Atieno (Peacock)

Madaraka Day June 1


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sunny afternoon-
a matatu driver wipes dust
from the mirror


on a jam
dusty matatus on a stand still -
nakumatt blaze

Nakumatt blaze was a great supermarket fire in 2009.


Siboko Yamame


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night Matatu ride --
not constitution debate
again!

the conductor opens
the umbrella at each stop--
Matatu ride

sudden rain--
the dwarf beggar limps
to the pavement

in the Matatu--
a drop of rain touches
my face

cold ride--
struggling with a stuck
Matatu window

Caleb Mutua
April 2010


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matatu ride --
the scent of roasting maize
wafts past me

Isabelle Prondzynski
October 2010


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Matatu ride --
a dusty card case dangles
all the way

Sometime back in Kenya, the then Transport minister John Michuki introduced new rules and regulations to be observed by the transport sector, especially the public transport and one of the rule was that all the public vehicle drivers should have their passport photos in the Matatu in order for the traffic police and the passengers to identify them.
However, nowadays few drivers follow the regulations. In this particular Matatu, the card case was empty and very dusty...

Caleb Mutua
January 2011


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drizzling morning--
a broken matatu window covered
with a polythene paper

~ Gloria Kerubo


matatu strike--
a long line of muddy
matatus

~ Jedidiah Nduku


potholes--
a driver slows down
the old matatu

emergency brake--
the driver stares at the crossing
Masai cow

~ Isaac Ndirangu


MORE

Matatu Competition May 2011


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Related words

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