Rogue 'nganyas': Matatu impunity rages unabated as police, NTSA dread the owners

In blatant defiance of the law, a new breed of matatus -loud, lawless, and often unregistered -has taken over Nairobi’s public transport. The vehicles, some operating without number plates or valid permits, now dominate city routes with impunity stunning ordinary commuters and honest operators alike.

Behind the growing menace lies a shadowy web of shell companies and proxies used to register the matatus, shielding their true owners. Investigations by The Standard reveal that some of these vehicles are owned by well-connected individuals, including politicians and senior government officials. Their influence ensures that even the most blatant traffic violations go unpunished, turning Nairobi's roads into an arena of impunity and danger. 

As the country sinks deeper into lawlessness across various sectors nowhere is the collapse more visible, or deadly, than on the roads, where impunity drives unchecked, often killing pedestrians without consequence.

At the centre of this matatu chaos is a fleet of rogue minibuses, including a flashy new one -The Mood -unveiled last Friday at a ceremony attended by President William Ruto’s son, George Ruto. And he wasn't just at the unveiling, he was present at every key moment: From the garage where the vehicle was built, to the prayers held to bless the matatu before it hit Nairobi’s roads and finally the KICC event.

Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu didn’t hide her excitement about the matatu, posting: “Hii nganya nayo lazima nipande squad ka mbili hadi maskio ifanye ndrrr niskie fiti. Millenials wa Eastlando can relate," (I must ride in this matatu at least two rounds until my hearing gets muffled and I feel good).

George Ruto has been linked to several city matatus - including Matrix, Manifest, and Mood. However, these have been accused of flouting traffic rules by picking up or dropping off passengers at unauthorised stops, reckless driving, and ignoring safety regulations. They join a fleet of several PSVs owned by powerful individuals who openly violate the law, putting Kenyan lives at risk.

A search at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) established that Manifest, which today operates without a number plate was earlier registered under Nineteen ninety-eight technologies Limited, which is owned by an individual called Kenneth Rono. A source who declined to be named and is known to George said Rono is his trusted man in transport business and has had most of the vehicles owned by George registered in the name of his company.

The physical address on the registration certificate reads Lang'ata District Nairobi along Koitobos Road Hardy Karen, Nairobi. The registration was done on September 18, 2021. A call placed through the cell phone number on the registration certificate that bears as Rono's contact did not go through.

“Rono handles the interest of George Ruto when it comes to transport businesses,” George’s friend told the Standard.

On the part of Mood despite operating on public roads as a PSV The Standard could not verify who owns it.

Cornelius Rono, a Nairobi resident and social media enthusiast, expressed frustration after Matrix sped around the roundabout near the Supreme Court—leaning nearly 30 degrees as it swung past City Hall Way, a zone matatus aren’t even allowed. Youths clung on the sides, screaming as if it were a stunt show.

“This is a roundabout in City Hall Way, at the Supreme Court. Matatus are not even allowed to pass through this place. Shame,” he said.

The rogue matatus are now a common sight on key Nairobi routes, operating freely even along high-security streets of the city such as Harambee Avenue and Parliament Road. Police presence does little to deter them. “We’ve stopped trying,” one officer admitted. “No one wants to go up against the owners.”

The Standard reporters who were working on the story also boarded the matatu and took the pictures of the tout warning them, “Utafanya nini peleka mahali unataka (what will you do? Take them anywhere you want).”

The Motorists Association of Kenya Chairman Peter Murima told The Standard that continued silence and inaction by the NTSA and police not only emboldens law breakers but also undermines their legitimacy as regulators and enforcers of road safety.

“An audit on the powerful untouchable state officials who are running the nganya matatu series should be done. EACC Boss should either or resign. EACC Boss should act to instill ethics or stop taking the salary. The matatu owners and matatu welfare, Saccos must speak out against this blatant violation by their members or disown them. ,” Murima said, adding, “The Minister of Roads and Transport must be be called out for allowing unruly behaviour.”

Dickson Mbugua, chairperson of the Matatu Operators Association said such matatus are making it hard for police to maintain law and order on the streets since they are rude to passengers, police and other road users.

 “These vehicles belong to the who’s who in government,” said Mbugua, chairperson of the Matatu Operators Association. “The NTSA Act of 2012 and KEBS standards are supposed to regulate matatu fabrication, but enforcement has failed. Compliance audits are not done. It’s hard to impound a vehicle owned by a senior official’s child. The industry is infiltrated by cartels, and genuine operators suffer.”

NTSA, which is mandated by law to ensure road safety through implementing traffic rules was not immediately available for comment. The body's Communications Director Antony Nyongesa had not responded to our questions sent him by the time we went to press. 

Police spokesperson Nyaga Muchiri when reached for comment described the behaviour as unacceptable, and asked us to reach out to traffic Commandant Fredrick Ochieng who failed to pick our calls or respond to our SMS.

"The commandant-Traffic, would be able to give a clearer response on this. No one is allowed to drive on our roads without Registration plates. This is illegal and totally against the law," Muchiri said. 

Efforts to enforce law and order within the matatu sector have faced resistance or outright sabotage. In February 2024, the High Court upheld a police order to impound matatus with unauthorized flashy lights, ruling the National Police Service acted within the Traffic Act. Petitioner Ezekiel Osewe argued only the Transport CS had such authority, but the court found no rights were violated.

Despite the ruling, enforcement is uneven. A Nairobi officer said arresting certain vehicles can lead to transfers.

NTSA rules require matatus to be registered, insured, inspected, and fitted with safety features. Drivers need PSV licenses and must stay sober. Graffiti and dark tints are banned.

“We call them GK matatus—GK 001, GK 002, GK 003, GK 004,” the officer said. “They enjoy more privileges than government ambulances. If you touch them, you’ll either be redeployed or embarrassed by your bosses.”

In 2022, Kenya recorded 4,690 road deaths—a 2.4% rise from 2021. Serious injuries slightly dropped to 9,935, but minor injuries rose to 7,132.

Pedestrians were hardest hit with 1,682 deaths, followed by 1,254 motorcyclists. Many accidents occurred during rush hour, linked to speeding and reckless matatu driving.

Despite fewer total accidents, the data highlights a persistent danger from unregulated public service vehicles, especially to vulnerable road users. 

A culture of risk and defiance 

Videos obtained by The Standard showed "clubs on wheels," where rocking jamaican music playing as half-naked individuals—dressed only in pants and bras— dance, giving the rides a scene reminiscent of Biblical Sodom and Gomorrah.

“Fridays we enjoy the rides and pay return trips. Its music, weed, alcohol and Cigar,” said a Nganya enthusiast who plies Kiambu road.

But not everyone shares the enthusiasm. One user, Hilly Hill, pushed back: “There’s no culture here if corruption money is used. Ask yourself why these vehicles have no plates. Why don’t they follow traffic rules?”

He continued: “People are being silenced when they question the system. If graffiti is suddenly banned during protests, but later celebrated as culture, then we’re being played.”

The growing culture of impunity is also marked by violence and tragedy. In October 2023, a matatu in Zimmerman struck a pedestrian while overlapping during high traffic. The driver fled the scene. Police later revealed the driver had 17 prior violations but was still operating.

“As an association that advocates for sound and effective transport policy, we are deeply shocked by the blatant disregard for the law by some matatu operators. From obstructing the driver’s view at the windscreen to the deliberate removal or concealment of number plates, acts clearly intended to evade identification and accountability- these violations cannot be ignored. The matatu owners and crew involved in such conduct must be stopped immediately,” Murima said.

In February 2024, a viral video from Githurai showed a tout slapping a female passenger who asked for change. Though the SACCO issued an apology, the tout disappeared before police could arrest him.

In April 2024, six people died on the Nakuru–Nairobi highway after a speeding matatu overtook dangerously and crashed into a truck. Survivors said the driver was rushing to complete another trip before curfew—a common profit-driven practice.

The tragedy repeats. In 2021, a university student in Kayole died after being pushed out of a moving matatu in a fare dispute. The vehicle vanished, only to reappear days later with altered plates. No arrests were made.

Even outside Nairobi, the rot festers. In July 2022, rival matatu Saccos violently clashed in Kisumu over the Kibos route, injuring passengers and destroying vehicles. No one was charged.

A 2023 Transparency International report confirmed widespread corruption within the sector. The majority of matatu crews admitted to paying daily bribes to traffic police. In exchange, violations—from overloading to lack of insurance—were ignored. “If you don’t pay, you’ll be stopped every 500 meters,” a driver told The Standard.

Kenya has implemented several reforms aimed at taming the matatu sector, including digitized fare systems, mandatory SACCO registration, and NTSA oversight. But these measures often fail at the altar of political interference.

“The legal framework is only enforced against the powerless,” said David Mbatha, a transport economist. “The rich and politically connected continue to break the law with no consequences.”