Matatu Business: The Worst Business Ever.

If you think transport business is good, you are a very lost man.

One day i do Matatu business. When Michuki came, my friend tell me that Matatu is keeping 12,000 per day. I did mathematics and saw myself rich. I went to NIC and they give me loan and bought Matatu. I bough T.27 from Japan.

I put good seat and good music and put it on road. To be accepted in route, i paid 30,000 to Mungiki. I tell a guy from KIgogoine in my village to come and be driver, and another one who is my cousin to come be makanga. When i take them, mungiki tell me either driver or makanga will be theirs. I choose Makanga to be mine.

First month, the Matatu make 5-6 per day. That first month, i climbed girls.. alot of them. They think i am richest man to own Matatu. Even when i go to bar, they are told, that man is the one that own 'Pied Piper' Matatu that has loudest music. When i see people look at me, i smile, knowing what they think of me. I even start looking a man that can introduce me to some members club where i can play golf.

Second month, the makanga who is my cousin become clever and they start to draw how to steal from me. So, the car start bringing 3-4 K. When i try to find out, they tell me competition is big now, and passengers are now entering the new manyanga. Two months, my matatu is no longer manyanga.

Everyday, they call 'Buda, ngari imeshikwo, ngari imegongwo, ngari imegongana, ngari imekanyanga mtu, gari imetoboka ile mtuu ya kukunya maji (the big tyres at back). Within 3 months, when i see the crew calling my number i start to tremble. Reason, they will never call to give me good news. When there is ithaa, they cant call me, but when traffic arrest the matatu, they will call. So, i decide to camp for one week in matatu and see how it will go because when i look at mirage, i see the car has gone for normal 12 - 13 round trips.

That day, i see the driver leave passages on road and the car has no people. When i ask him why he leave people and other matatus are carrying people, he say police will arrest the Matatu. I tell him to carry because others are carrying. So what he was doing was, when he see police, he will stop and carry people right where the traffic police is. The result is obvious. the Matatu is arrested. They tell me to talk with police. When police hear me is owner, he ask for Kshs. 1,000 and i give. In such situation, they normally part with 50 bob. At the end of the day, matatu had Kshs. 800 bob. so i say it is better when they are with the matatu alone. From that day, whatever they bring i take.

Tomorrow of it, they go to take people to Mau narok. The driver call me:

Driver: 'Gukihiana atia Sonko' (how does it look, boss)

Me: Ki kuru (good)

Driver: Riu sonko ri, , lori yuma thutha witu ndikiagire break (then pauses) (Now boss, lorry that was in back of us refused brakes)

Me: Iyo i thutha wanyu tigananai nayo. Inyue thiei na mbere na thabari (That lorry behind you leave it. You go on with journey)

Driver: Hena gathina kanini tondu niyatuhutia nathutha hanini (there is small problem because that lorry has touched the matatu small at back)

Me: (I am now used to the bad news ) ' ngari niyaringwo muno (Has the car been beaten so much)

Driver: ' Aca no bumper yakururwo hanini. no anga irihirio magana matano kuhura rangi ( No. it is only that is hurt small. only Kshs. 500 to paint ink on bumper)

Me 'Ndukimere makurire wenderee na thabari? (Tell them to pay you you continue in journey) I am getting annoyed coz why w'd he just call me to tell me such small matter when they can sort out. But i knew it could have been worst.

Driver: 'Thina ona ti kuriwo. Hindiyo roli iningire nathutha ndui injikirie na mbere nanie ndagutha gakari kanini kagaragara (To be paid is not the problem. That time it hit me at back, i also beat another small car infront and the small car rolled)

I am now trembling in testicles with anger. Not because of the accident but its because of the process he take to tell me the whole episode. Instead of telling me direct what happened , the beat bush and beat bush.

Later, the matatu could not finance itself and i got secret that autoneers might come for it. I had to hide it far, at Kisii until i get enough money. I have friend that come to do business, he was frustrated until he made his matatu chicken house. Today if you tell him about the business, he can beat you up. I know a dozen more that borrow loan only to find you cannot pay up the loan with the proceeds, ending up loosing the car to auctioneers. and the way bank call you by force to lend you money for matatu those days.

The business makes one to increase shock absorbers. When driver call you and tell you the matatu has fallen, the first thing you ask is, has the matatu spoilt so much? Then u ask if people have been hurt. Thats how bad it is.

Next time you want to do Matatu or any other transport business, come to me for advise. Its the worst. All type of transport are equally bad. My friend do car hire. Every month, one car must fall. And some of cars are of other people he take to rent out. Before when there was no car tract and GPRS was expensive, conmen steal three cars. Today when he rent a car to you, he tell you 'In-case of accident, dont say its for hire. Say it is for friend'

But the business is addictive. When you are into it, its like a cult. You dont get out until you are broke or auctioneers take your cars because you owe bank.

I remain,

Wanjohi wa Kigogoine.