05/06/2026
The culture of manyoka in Nairobi's matatu industry needs to stop. Young people are dying because of it, and nobody seems to be doing enough about it.
I witnessed this firsthand at the famous Naivasha stopover, that open stretch where people travelling to Western Kenya pull over to grab snacks or a quick bite before pushing on. If you've been there, you know the place.
Around 9 AM, a convoy of about eight buses rolled in.
Every single one of them was doing the manyoka thing swinging left, swinging right, zigzagging, tailgating each other at dangerously close range.
The passengers hanging out of windows and doors, clearly drunk and high. Honestly, I was scared. For a moment I genuinely thought they were going to hit us, or that a tragedy was about to unfold right in front of my eyes.
They stopped. They alighted. And without missing a beat, they walked straight to the nearest Wines and Spirits already wasted bought more, and got back on the road.
On our way to Nakuru, we caught up with the same convoy. Still doing the manyoka thing casually. Still in the middle of the road. Still a disaster waiting to happen.
I said a silent prayer for them.
