Ever wondered why the seats in most city matatus are always reserved?
Well, some matatu drivers have revealed that this is a trick used by mathree drivers to lure pretty girls.
According to some of the driver’s front row seat, which is branded ‘cabin’, is reserved for the slay queens, who have no qualms giving the driver some love in return for a free ride.
The crew also revealed they charge extra for other residents, who want to sit at the cabin.
“We allow passengers to sit in the cabin at an extra cost. It is a thing that has been there for long time, in some matatus anyone trying to get there is told of extra charges or denied access,” explains James Mong’are, a senior driver with a popular sacco plying Kayole and city centre route.
“If we charge Sh50 from the city centre, then the person seated in the cabin will pay Sh20 extra to the driver. The money belongs to driver. Even though some matatu owners ask drivers to use the collection for wash the Nganyas during close of business,” adds Mong’are.
On a good day, Mong’are says a driver can collect between Sh800-Sh1,000.
“In my case, I reserve the cabin for friends, who book in advance and still pay the amount depending on the time of the day,” he says.
However, Mike Muiya, a driver operating on the Buruburu route, says in the hood, some drivers use the cabin to ‘trap’ young ladies and seduce them on the way thus it was hard to carry two passengers.
“That’s nature of men. Some drivers prefer sitting next to women so as to try their luck on the way. In some cases, it works because some lasses love drivers, who are daring and ‘bad boys’ that’s. Buru is known for that,” he clams.
Muiya, who shifted from Rongai Sacco, reveals it is the same case on the route. The trendy matatus make good proceeds on daily basis and some drivers spend on the girls certain that the next day will be better.
“Most of the passengers on the route are students, who want tip for lunch and outing on Fridays that’s why many drivers won’t allow just anyone in the cabin. It is reserved for ladies willing to sing along their tunes,” Muiya says.
It is the same story for Umoja, Mwiki/Kasarani, Kitengela, Ngong/Karen, Embakasi and section of Eastern bypass routes.
