Alex Haynie, nicknamed “Aliki” by some of his new Strathmore friends, is an associate at Strathmore University Foundation now in Kenya until December on a three-month exchange assignment to further the collaboration of SUF with Strathmore University.  A 2008 graduate of Princeton University from North Wales, PA, Alex is interning with three of Strathmore’s departments: athletics, community outreach, and alumni development. He is keeping a journal of his experiences and impressions.

The cheapest way to get around Nairobi is to ride the matatus, which are fourteen passenger mini-buses

that crank hip hop music and drive fast on different routes throughout the city.  Matatus have one driver, and one “recruiter”—a guy who hangs out of the open sliding door and calls to people to get into his van.  Matatus are really cheap—around twenty shillings a ride (seventy Kenyan shillings = one US Dollar), and understandably so.  They are aged and well worn vans that spew black exhaust and kick up clouds of dust

as they rush by walkers on the streets.   

 

I’ve ridden in several matatus already, and they’ve gotten me where I needed to go.  In the center of Nairobi, there are a few streets where tons of matatus congregate to pick up passengers before they head out of the city on their routes.  When searching for the correct matatu that will take me to Madaraka estate (Matatu #14 goes right near Strathmore), I feel as though I’m on offer at a huge meat market as “recruiters” repeatedly shout out their destination and cram passengers into the back of the buses.  The recruiters don’t give their drivers the go-ahead sign (which involves slamming the side of the van—often a number of times, because the music is so loud) until every seat is occupied by a passenger.

 

In any event, matatu rides have been interesting experiences and reliable transportation.