Week 5

After a slight delay here is my update from week 5 in Kenya.
In this blog I would like to give you a better insight on driving and public transport in Kenya…

As I mentioned before the main way of travelling in Kenya is on MATATU. There are many different types of matatu – they vary in size an style. The three main ones are:
• Plain 14-seater mini-vans
• Completely covered by graffiti mini-vans
• The big matatus that can fit around 30 people, also covered in graffiti

They all share few characteristics though – all of them play very loud music, they come and go as they please, change the route without any warning (even if you ask before boarding if they go the route you need, it might change anyway), they have very loud conductors and crazy drivers. It is very common for the matatu to drive on the side of the road (what would have been a hard shoulder but in Kenya is just dust…) just to get ahead of the traffic – yes, I have learned that Kenyans do not like to sit in traffic. Very often to get extra few shillings for the additional traveller, the conductor gives up his seat and hangs on the side of the vehicle! Or they tell u to take their seat which is just next to the sliding door of the van but when its time to move they also try to fit on that seat whilst trying to get the door closed… I guess is one of those experiences that you have to see to fully understand the craziness of it :) I have got used to them though and have no problems travelling on the matatu. I did however once ended up in Nairobi instead of Doonholm where I am staying – it was my 2nd trip on my own back from Imani and the matatu driver decided to change the route. At that time I didn’t know my route very well at all so I did not notice that we were going a different way and by the time I realised I was nowhere near home it was already too late to get off so I stayed until the end and came back on the same vehicle. I did speak to the driver though who did actually seem quite sorry for making me come all the way to Nairobi but at least he didn’t charge me for the travelling back to Doonholm :) it was very interesting experience and I was lucky that it happened during the day not after the afternoon shift as I would have to travel after dark and it is not safe… since that incident I have learnt exactly where I need to get off the matatu depending on which route they take – sometimes it just means that I have to walk much further… and here it is where you might get really surprised – I have actually been doing quite a lot of walking ;)

The other thing about getting around in Kenya, especially in Nairobi, is the amount of traffic – each day in Nairobi there are 3 million people… and the driving habbits are unbelievable. For example, I do not know why there are traffic lights here – nobody ever looks at them – people drive as they please whether the light is green or red so it is quite a mission trying to cross the road when you are walking.
There are actually very often policemen at the junctions directing the traffic – and on most of roundabouts – and even they don’t follow the traffic lights.

I am really wondering how I managed to survive all this time unhurt :)