President William Ruto’s son, George Kimutai Ruto, is once again trending, this time, for shaking up Nairobi’s streets with the launch of his new matatu, Mood. George Ruto’s new Matatu was launched on Friday, July 19. The unveiling of the eye-catching matatu has stirred excitement, chaos, and now, controversy. The matatu, which officially joined the Embakasi route on Friday, June 18, was launched in typical Nairobi fashion: flashy and loud. The launch event, which was held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), drew massive crowds of youth who braved heavy rain to witness the birth of Nairobi’s latest matatu sensation.
. Top DJs entertained revellers as Mood made its way from the garage into the heart of the CBD, marking its debut with booming music, bright lights and a street concert vibe. What did George Ruto’s Mood matatu do? However, barely 48 hours later, the matatu is already the centre of heated debate. For many Nairobians, the launch was more disruptive than dazzling. Critics pointed to traffic chaos, unnecessary stunt driving, and tragically, the reported death of a tout hit by a rogue matatu during the event. Online, the backlash grew louder, with users questioning the costs involved in pimping out the matatu and speculating whether looted government coffers might have been used. Adding fuel to the fire was a viral TikTok video showing Mood in traffic as loud music blared and passengers hung dangerously out of its windows. The footage captured a tense moment when a police vehicle struggled to navigate around the flashy matatu.
However, what truly got people talking was the reaction on the ground. Crowds boldly told off the police officer, warning him not to mess with the vehicle, owned by the president’s son, or risk an immediate job transfer. “Ukiguza hii gari, hutaenda transfer, ni kazi itaisha,” one fan could be heard saying. This is not George’s first matatu to raise eyebrows. His other two vehicles, Matrix and MoneyFest, have also come under scrutiny for flouting traffic and NTSA regulations with little to no consequence. Watch the video below: Social media comments Here are some comments from those who watched the video: chrisentgody: “Lakini ile kiwango crown imedhalilishwa hii Kenya, not good at all.” Chris Twity: “Impunity! Watu wanafurahia millionaire akicheza na toy zake.” _cloud_.: “Polisi ndio anapigwa transfer sindio.” Sam’s Aqua Solutions: “This is how the streets will be from today💪🤣 Traffic hamna bahati🤣🤣muanze kutafuta pesa ya kulipa watu ndio waexpose impunity in our roads.”
BEAST: “Panda hapo ukule transfer uende Mandera.” mr.spoken: “Sasa mnataka tuchukie George juu ya babake 😅 we don’t inherit enemity.” TN: “Hii mdomo mnarusharusha ndio itaharibia hii gari. Nani akasema haiwezi shikwa.” B.kivuu: “One call unasikia unaitwa headquarters za police eti uende likizo utapigiwa simu.” Kj Mwaniki: “Gari ya serikali haiguswii.” George Ruto unveiled his new matatu, MOOD, in a grand event at KICC. How did George Ruto acquire Money Fest? Previously, MoneyFest’s driver came to George’s defence, stating that the vehicle was purchased through a bank loan. He criticised those questioning its ownership and registration, accusing them of peddling misinformation. The driver maintained that George has every right to participate in the matatu industry, regardless of being the president’s son. He further noted that the business supports many families.
By DanVictor Munene
