Matatus, Kenya's Public Transportation in the News

by: Jennifer Kumar

Informative article on the history and present concerns of the matatu industry in Kenya. Matatus are mini buses, infamous for overcrowding, used as public transportation. The article seems to make me think fares are quite constant across the board. However, I have read several travel blogs that highlight the opposite - that bargining is done both by foreigners and locals alike.

From the article: "Matatu is the Swahili word for three - early fares for a trip in the capital, Nairobi, were just three of Kenya's smallest coins, said Gerishon Ikiara, a top official in Kenya's transport ministry."

See the article here: http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iFa-iZPVYGI1Iyj2xyyEaYcXLoEg

Read an engaging post on public transportation in Kenya on the blog "A Vermonter in Kenya."