The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is looking for a matatu fitted with large screens that appear to block the driver’s view of the road.
The authority wants members of the public to help identify the vehicle after a video of the matatu was shared widely online, raising questions about how safe the modification is.
In the video, two large television screens can be seen mounted at the front of the matatu, taking up a big part of the area around the driver’s windscreen.
The driver is seen trying to navigate through traffic with the screens appearing to limit his view of the road.
The video also raised questions about whether the vehicle had gone through the required inspection before being allowed to operate.
NTSA responded to the post by asking for the vehicle’s registration number so that it could trace and investigate it.
“Kindly share the registration number of this vehicle,” NTSA said.
It was not immediately clear whether the matatu had been inspected by the authority or when the modifications were made.
Matatu modifications under scrutiny
The incident has once again put the spotlight on the growing trend of heavily customised matatus, especially the vehicles commonly known as nganyas.
Some matatu owners have invested heavily in interior designs, powerful sound systems, lighting, screens and artwork to attract passengers, particularly young people.
While the designs have become part of Kenya’s matatu culture, authorities have repeatedly raised concerns where modifications affect safety.
The latest case comes at a time when NTSA and matatu operators have been involved in a long-running disagreement over the regulation of graffiti, artwork and tinted windows on public service vehicles.
In April, the High Court allowed NTSA to enforce its directive requiring PSVs to remove graffiti and other unauthorised modifications.
The court found that the authority had acted within its mandate and that the measures were intended to improve road safety.
However, the position changed a month later after President William Ruto directed NTSA to stop the planned crackdown on matatu artwork and graffiti.
The President said operators could continue with the designs as long as they complied with safety requirements and did not interfere with other road users.
The latest search by NTSA is therefore focused on a different concern whether the screens fitted inside the matatu are obstructing the driver’s view and putting passengers and other road users at risk.
