President William Ruto has directed the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to allow matatus to retain graffiti and artistic branding, while ensuring safety and respect for other road users.
He said the government should “facilitate a relieving environment” for operators to continue using creative designs on their vehicles.
“I have also directed the NTSA to facilitate a relieving environment for matatus to continue utilising artwork and graffiti on their vehicles in a manner that upholds safety and respect for other road users,” he said.
Ruto noted concerns from the sector over enforcement actions. “The industry is telling me that they have been told they must remove all graffiti from their matatus, and I’m asking myself why,” he said.
The directive comes after a recent High Court ruling that upheld a National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) policy requiring the removal of graffiti, artistic designs, and tinted windows from public service vehicles.
In the judgment, Justice Bahati Mwamuye found the regulations “constitutional, lawful and properly grounded in public safety considerations,” dismissing a petition challenging them.
The case had been filed by Michael Makubo, who argued the directive was “unconstitutional, discriminatory and issued without adequate public participation,” and warned it threatened Kenya’s “Nganya culture.”
However, the court ruled: “The petitioner has failed to establish any violation of his constitutional rights or the rights of the class he purports to represent,” adding that the regulations were properly enacted following public participation and parliamentary scrutiny.
