“Manyanga” was such a catch-word in the Kenyan lingo and matatu industry in the 90s, and anyone who grew up then knew of it. It was associated with colorfully done art-pieces donned on vans, mini-buses and the like. They featured some of the iconic and famous people in both the music and political scenes, many of them now/then departed. It was until many moons ago that the then transport minister the late Hon. John Michuki banned these forms of graffiti/artistic works (which was an employment avenue for many a youths) from being painted/done on them vehicles. Being a strict minister he was, all PSVs complied and saw the advent of the now boring yellow line appearing on these vans (14-seater matatus). Only inside these vehicles had the beautiful interior. Matatus/manyangas were in competition to prove to the others it was the trendiest/colorful/beautiful of them all. It was Kenyan, it was artistic.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has killed off his Government’s plans to ban the use of 14-seater vans in the country’s public transport sector. He also said he saw no reason to continue to prohibit the colourful artwork that once made public service vehicles icons of Kenyan creativity.
The Head of State halted the campaign to push the low-capacity vehicles out of the matatu (public taxi) business during the launch of a cashless payment system for public service vehicles in Nairobi on Wednesday.
“A blanket ban on 14-seater matatus will not be implemented,” Mr Kenyatta said, providing a lifeline for industry players who were bracing for changes that would force the vehicles out of most urban centres.
The President was speaking at the launch of the MY 1963 pre-paid card, one of several cashless payment systems to be used on PSVs in the country. He urged industry players to use the new cashless payment systems to provide better services and improve the lives of both their employees and their passengers.The president also questioned one of the changes introduced several years ago by then Transport minister John Michuki requiring matatus to have one colour only, marked with a yellow line across the middle.
“To be frank, why are we interfering with graffiti on matatus?” he asked, recalling the days when colourful vans were the norm. “Let us (support) our young people (if they wish to make a living doing such artwork).”
Matatu associations and savings and credit cooperatives have been pushing for the lifting of a freeze on new registration of 14-seaters, which the National Transport and Safety Authority began to enforce in December last year. They were also opposed to plans to force 14-seater matatus already registered as PSVs out of cities and towns, the most lucrative markets in the Sh200-billion public transport sector.
OUT WITH THE YELLOW-LINE MATATUS; WELCOME BACK GRAFITTI