George Ruto launched his new Matatu on Friday, July 19. The matatu, which officially joined the Embakasi route on Friday, June 18, debuted in typical Nairobi fashion: flashy and loud. The launch event, which took place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), drew massive crowds of youth who braved heavy rain to witness the birth of Nairobi’s latest matatu sensation. Crowds of youth braved heavy rain at KICC to welcome Mood, but by the end of the day, not everyone celebrated.
A viral moment captured the matatu ‘locking horns’ with a police vehicle, sparking bold warnings from onlookers that left Kenyans divided Online chatter exploded as critics raised serious questions, from the matatu’s funding sources to its disregard for road safety laws.
However, barely 48 hours later, Nairobians are already heatedly debating the matatu. For many, the launch proved more disruptive than dazzling. Critics pointed to traffic chaos, unnecessary stunt driving, and tragically, a rogue matatu reportedly hit and killed a tout during the event.
Online, the backlash grew louder as users questioned the costs involved in pimping out the matatu and speculated whether looted government coffers might have funded it. Adding fuel to the fire, a viral TikTok video showed Mood in traffic while loud music blared and passengers hung dangerously out of its windows. The footage captured a tense moment when a police vehicle struggled to navigate around the flashy matatu.
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