Most residents in Nakuru like any other city in Kenya are forced to use public means to get to different destinations.
Other than being readily available, matatu fares are mostly pocket-friendly in Nakuru.
A recent article, 'Here are Nakuru’s Hottest Matatus' identified route 46 as one that has matatus that will catch your attention as they are pimped.
However, the matatus from the same route which ferry residents from Langalanga to Nakuru Town also have drivers and conductors who are the most annoying.
Route 46 drivers and especially those who drive pimped cars are known to over speed especially during the evening where there are a lot of passengers. During these instances, the drivers who are usually in a hurry so as to pick up more passengers from town end up not parking the matatus at the roadside to allow conductors to alight and instead, they choose to park close to the roadside so that they can begin their journey as soon as a passenger alights not to mention overlapping when a jam is experienced at Kanu Street or any other street that the matatus use so as to reach their final destination.
The matatus and especially those that are loved by the youth also break NEMA regulations regarding noise pollution. The music is quite loud and some pleas from the older generation to have the music turned off at times fall on deaf ears.
Some of the conductors also have a habit of ‘forgetting’ to give some passengers back their change. Woe unto you if you forget to ask for it for you may end up not being reminded that you are owed.
In addition, drivers from this route have a habit of reversing their matatus for long distances in the name of picking up passengers who at times are not there. It is fun if the driver decides to reverse the car to pick you up but quite disgusting if you are one of the passengers who are in the matatus. The said behavior will turn your 15 minutes journey to town to a 25-minute journey. Woe unto you if someone was waiting for you in town after you specifically communicated to them that you were 10 minutes away from your destination.
Another undesired behaviour is when you are not taken to your actual destination, especially during the morning hours where you are forced to alight before you reach the final stage based in a place known as ‘ Kawangware’ and you are forced to alight at a stage known as ‘ Philadelphia Church’ simply because there are passengers who want to be ferried to town.
Despite being appealing to the young, the matatus from this route and especially those that are pimped are the most annoying.