The High Court Wednesday, April 30, threw out a constitutional petition challenging NTSA’s directive that bans graffiti, decorative artwork, and tinted windows on public service vehicles,. Justice Bahati Mwamuye’s decision dealt a blow to matatu operators defending Kenya’s vibrant nganya culture. Mwamuye noted that the NTSA ban formulated last year was lawful and necessary for road safety. The petitioners had arguaed that the ban unfairly targeted matatu operators and threatened the cultural identity defined by colorful graffiti, neon lights, loud music, and customised interiors. Reacting to the ruling, the Lang’ata MP noted that it was against the youth creativity. “Ng’anya culture is here to stay. We’re heading back to court, and I will personally cover all legal fees as we appeal the ruling. This is an industry that drives Nairobi. People travel from all over just to experience matatu culture, the art, the music, the energy,” Jalang’o said.
Earlier, Professor Makau Mutua urged the government to restore order in Kenya’s chaotic matatu industry, arguing that public transport has lost its dignity due to the entrenched matatu culture. As President William Ruto’s constitutional advisor, he called for a reset through a structured system of identifiable, traceable buses that guarantee passenger safety. Mutua criticised the flashy, graffiti-covered minibuses and unruly crews common in Nairobi, insisting they should be removed from the roads. He proposed introducing reliable, uniform buses, limiting matatu licenses to standardized models, and even banning boda bodas, stressing that such tough measures are necessary to bring sanity back to urban transport.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
