Most people who don’t have personal cars in Nakuru have at one point or the other been forced to use public means to get to their destination.
Travelling using public means is mostly a pleasant affair especially in instances where one has to pay their fare at a designated point before boarding the matatu.
However, it is while one is travelling for short distances that one may have an unpleasant time especially when it comes to an encounter with some matatu conductors.
These annoying conductors or ‘dondas’ as they are commonly referred to as in Nakuru are classified in the following categories;
1) Those who disappear with your change
These conductors who feign amnesia when it comes to change are well known in Nakuru especially by those who have had the unfortunate experience. Once you ask for your change, this kind of conductor will assure you that you will get it, just as a way of making you forget your change.To avoid this unfortunate experience, Nakuru people are advised to carry the exact fare required when travelling from one destination to the other. This type of makanga will make sure he alights before you get to your destination and especially if there is a traffic jam and disappear, leaving you stranded.
2) Dondas who will give you free rides
These kinds of conductors are mostly found in matatus with loud music which normally have a lot of graffiti (nganyas) that are very popular with the youth. They are quick to spot beautiful ladies at the road side after which they ensure that you ride freely in their matatus. They ensure the lady introduced to the driver. They will also ensure that their fellow conductors get to give you free rides on their account. After getting a few free rides, the ladies will normally give their phone numbers and 'things' follow.
3) The rude conductor
This kind of conductor must have gotten on most people’s nerves at one point or the other because he is always ready to give rude answers to any questions asked by the passengers. They are normally found in nganyas. A passenger may innocently ask if they can change their music to ‘muziki ya Yesu,’ and the conductor will be quick to tell the passenger that ‘Yesu hajatoa muziki madam.’
4) The conductor who carries excess
This kind of conductor will willingly offer his seat just for the money. He will go ahead and ensure that a seat meant for three passengers has four of them. This is mostly common with conductors in matatus who ferry passengers to an area called Kiratina in the outskirts of Nakuru Town and Sobea.
5) Those who will fight for you
Most conductors in Nakuru fall under this category. They especially go for women who have children and luggage. This happens when there are two matatus competing over a passenger. In this case, one will carry your luggage to the matatu whereas the other one will carry your children to the other matatu.
They will then start fighting over you. Some of the shameless conductors will go ahead to pull you left and right. This is bound to leave the poor woman distressed and making a lot of noise. At this point, most passengers in the other matatus will laugh at the free movie. The argument will be settled once the passenger becomes firm and decides which matatu she will board.