Gearing up for new normal
Since March this year when the first case of Covid-19 was reported in the country, the government through the Ministry of Health ordered public service vehicles to limit passenger capacity by up to 60 per cent.
This didn’t come down as good news to most matatu operators. A 33-seater Matatus is only authorised to carry a maximum of 17 passengers while a 14-seater is restricted to only eight per trip.
This measure was encouraged in order to observe the 1.5 metres social distancing rule.
Four months later, mathree investors have come up with a solution to this problem owing to the realisation that the pandemic may not end soon.
They are now taking their javs back to fabricators to redesign seating arrangement in a way that will make them pocket more profit, but at the same time meeting the new safety rules.
A good example of a matatu that has observed the rule is a one plying Ngong town and city center dubbed Milano.
Its seats are arranged in three columns with each column having a lone seat placed one metre away from each other.
It now carries five more passengers as a result of this modification.
“This should be the new normal in arrangement of seats in the public transport sector, all should be made to comply with the legislation as soon as possible.
The National Transport and Safety Authority must grab this opportunity moving forward.
Covid-19 is here for the foreseeable future, ” says Peter Kamau, a regular matatu user.
Name :Milano
Route:Ngong #111 NTVRS Sacco
Passengers:22
Design and art: Eddie Picaso
Fabricated by: CFG fabricators
Outstanding features:The interior look of this matatu has masterminded another trend on the nganya industry, especially the seating arrangement.
It holds a 50” main screen and four 28” side screens with a thumping sound system courtesy of Blitz entertainment.
Inspiration:The jav name and graffiti are inspired by Italian soccer club Inter Milan.
“The mat has turned out to be many people’s favourite due to it’s distinctive yet spacious seats, though it was expensive to redesign.
We are proud that Milano has set the pace in matatus seating arrangement,” says Kuria, an NTVRS Sacco official.
