A viral video circulating on X captures the man, dressed in a brightly colored hat and leaning casually against his yellow minibus, shouting, “Hapa tunabeba one-term pekee!” – meaning “Here we only carry one-term only!”
The conductor reportedly asked commuters about their political preferences before allowing them on board, turning away those he suspected of supporting politicians seeking a second term.
In the background, pedestrians and other matatus watched with a mixture of bewilderment and amusement, while the conductor gestured emphatically, making his stance clear.
The scene unfolds against the familiar chaos of Nairobi’s matatu stops: blaring horns, street vendors, and crowds of passengers. Yet amid the routine, politics intruded in an unexpected way.
The stunt comes as the 2027 elections draw near, with “one-term” increasingly used by critics of President William Ruto’s government, who cite unmet promises on governance and the economy. Supporters of a second term, meanwhile, argue for continuity.
Online reactions were swift and divided. Some praised the conductor’s boldness, with one comment reading, “Hii ni democracy kwa streets!” Others criticized the move as discriminatory and potentially dangerous.
“Matatus should unite us, not divide,” warned one user. Transport authorities have not commented yet, but the National Transport and Safety Authority has previously cautioned against politicizing public transport.
Observers note that the incident reflects Kenya’s deepening political polarization, where even daily commutes become arenas for ideological expression.
Whether a genuine protest or a staged spectacle, the clip has drawn thousands of views and sparked debate, showing that in Nairobi, your bus ride might now come with an unexpected question: whose side are you on?
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