If you thought that Michuki rules were a joke, you are in for a rude shock as Police Chief Joseph Boinnet might have just hit the last nail on the coffin.
Boinnet seems set to do completely do away with the now famous matatu graffiti culture that has become a major source of employment to various Kenyan Youths.
In an exclusive interview with Jeff Koinange, Boinnet said that he supports art and in fact love’s it but only has issues with it due to the fact that some of it celebrate gangsters or violence.
“I celebrate our culture and I love art. But not one that celebrate gangsters or violence!” said Boinnet.
We have seen matatus with graffiti of famous musicians and at times drug Lords like El Chapo and Pablo Escobar. It is such graffiti that the IG is so much against. He said that his boys will deal with any matatu operator that will not adhere to the new set rules.
Matatu owners have therefore been forced to go back to garages ahead of the November 12, deadline of ‘Michuki rules ‘crackdown.
Owners whose Matatus have been customized and fitted with fancy entertainment unit and graffiti are now feeling the pinch.
A decision to reintroduce the Michuki rules that were put in place by the late Cabinet Minister John Michuki will surely lead to the disappearance of the fancy maatatus we are so used to boarding.
The Michuki regulations require Matatus to have only one colour and a continuous yellow line painted on the sides, back and front.
However matatu operators argues that classic matatus attracts more clients as compared to the old fashion ones.
“This vehicle make double what the other vehicles make on a daily basis. A normal Matatu makes about Ksh.7000, I make more than Ksh.15, 000 daily,” said one Matatu operator.
Although many have been associated with rogue behavior, the customized Matatus are popular with certain customers.
According to the ‘Michuki rule’,Matatus and taxis are to be painted with a consistent yellow band that is 15 centimetres wide and easily identifiable from 275 metres away.
Sasa unataka tuchorewe polisi kwa gari za umma?
— Hot Biscuit (@actoralltime) November 8, 2018
So u want them to put the pope’s graffiti ?
— A B D U L R A S H E E D™ (@abdulrasheedTM) November 8, 2018
We were past this already when Michuki introduced uniforms and the yellow stripe. Then mad @UKenyatta took us back
— Alom The Great (@alom1807) November 7, 2018
You cant Kill Culture, wasss wrong with this guys
— victor ogega (@ogesh100) November 7, 2018
I support IG on this
— Mercy kainga (@KaingaMercy) November 8, 2018