President William Ruto’s Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs, Professor Makau Mutua, has stirred public debate with a fresh proposal to overhaul Kenya’s matatu sector.
In a statement shared on his X account, Mutua advocated for the return of clean, timely, and reliable public buses, similar to the now-defunct Kenya Bus Service (KBS). He also called for strict reforms in the matatu industry, including a cap on the number of vehicles allowed to operate and the adoption of a standard design and colour for all minibuses.
“Let’s return road sanity to Kenya’s major cities and towns by introducing reliable, clean, and timely buses (aka KBS),” Mutua wrote.
He further urged the government to license only a limited number of matatus, all of which should be of the same model and colour. He said this would eliminate the current chaos caused by overly customised vehicles.
“License LIMITED number of matatus that must have the same model minibuses with the same colour (no strange camouflage and weird lights), and ban boda boda. No pain, no gain,” he stated.
Mutua’s proposal, if implemented, would mark a significant shift in the structure of Kenya’s informal public transport sector. Matatus are currently known for their vibrant, graffiti-style artwork, flashing lights, and loud music—features Mutua wants scrapped in favour of a standardised fleet.
He also reiterated his earlier proposal to ban boda bodas from cities and towns, arguing that they contribute to disorder and congestion. This idea has already drawn backlash from the Boda Boda Association of Kenya.
His suggestions come just days after George Ruto, the President’s son, unveiled a newly customised matatu dubbed Mood, featuring the very aesthetics Mutua is opposing.
While Mutua insists the reforms would restore order and efficiency to urban transport, his comments have reignited a national conversation over the future of the matatu culture, which many view as a symbol of youth identity and urban creativity.
