Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Public transport in Kenya and Uganda.

Jon and I have been traveling primarily by matatus which are public minivans that are meant for 15 people.  They are available in all towns we have visited thus far and generally cost about $1 or $2 for an hour trip.  The roads here are mostly unpaved and they drive on the opposite side of the road.  The roads that are paved have no lines marking the middle.  There are also very few sidewalks which mean there are many people riding bikes, motorbikes and walking along the sides.  The men who drive and collect the money earn more money if they make more trips per day on their route.  This means they drive very very fast with little regard for what side of the road they are driving on.  With 15 people on board the seating is quite tight as there is generally also bags of a grain, a chicken or two, and a mattress pad or some sacks tied to the top.  In Kenya there are police checkpoints to ensure the law of fourteen passengers is being followed and that there is nothing strapped on top of the van.  We went through countless check points but never had an officer stop us despite blatantly ignoring the rule.  I did however witness the money collector hand the officer a large bill or bribe but it was discrete.  When we crossed the border to Uganda the police were less discrete - that's all I will say for now as I am still traveling here.... The matatus in Uganda we have learned are the same size but carry 20 people.  Jon usually has his knees to his ears in these vans while it is not so rough for me.  Its also a great way to chat with people from the local area and learn about what you see around you.  When lucky we can sit in the front seats, which are also referred to as the death seats as they are the most unsafe, but by far the most comfortable.  Overall, the public transport while not very comfortable is a great way to get around! More on buses later.

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