This archive report was first published on 8 July 2019.
How aging Mombasa PSVs withstand rivalry ¶
Published on July 8, 2019, at 21:57
Matatus in Mombasa have become a sight to behold, with their vibrant designs and colours making them stand out in the crowd. But what lies beneath the surface of these seemingly new vehicles?
According to Peter Warui, a matatu owner in Mombasa, the key to their success lies in their ability to appeal to their customers. 'We pimp these matatus to our customers' liking,' he said.
Warui explained that most of their customers are young people who are attracted to the flashy designs and music on the vehicles. 'Our business is all about being appealing to our passengers, which means we have to upgrade our matatus with different designs frequently,' he said.
Behind the appeal, however, is the owners' need to keep these vehicles on the roads for as long as possible. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) introduced new rules four years ago that barred the registration of newer 14-seater vehicles.
As a result, matatu owners have turned to garages like Starmotors, where Mohammed Seif and his team work tirelessly to give the vehicles a fresh new look. 'We first scrap off the old paint on the matatu; using an air brush we spray a white base coat, then spray the colour preferred by the owner, that is the top coat, then finally add graffiti design that the client has chosen,' Seif explained.
The process can take up to 21 days to complete, and the cost can range from Sh100,000 to Sh110,000, depending on the level of work required. A music system is also installed in the vehicle at a cost of Sh60,000.
For matatu conductor Suleiman Kombo, having a 'new' looking matatu is essential for generating extra income. 'We prefer having a pimped matatu because people don’t mind sitting uncomfortably when they are assured of getting to their destination earlier. That way I get extra cash on top of my daily salary because we take more trips than our employer anticipated,' he said.
