American music producer DJ Khaled was thrilled after seeing a viral post of a Kenyan matatu featuring his graffiti portrait.
The 14-seater matatu, decorated in bold colours and street art style, caught his attention on social media.
DJ Khaled, whose real name is Khaled Mohammed Khaled, reshared the post on his Instagram page. He added one of his hit songs, Moneybagg Yo, as the background music, showing his excitement and appreciation.
This comes just weeks after another matatu with a similar theme made headlines, this time featuring popular American adult film actor Kira Noir. A photo of the matatu, splashed with her image, was posted online and quickly went viral.
Kira Noir noticed the image and reposted it on her own social media account. She seemed surprised and curious, asking her fans, “Chat, is this real?”
Her post drew immediate attention, especially from Kenyans on X. Many rushed to the comment section to confirm that the matatu is indeed real.
“Lol yeah, that’s a public bus in Kenya; I’ve seen it before,” one user commented.
Matatu culture
Kenya’s matatu culture is known for its colourful and artistic graffiti, often featuring global celebrities, trending topics, or iconic moments in pop culture.
In November 2022, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja voiced his support for the city’s dynamic matatu culture, which is well-known for its vibrant graffiti and booming music.
Sakaja highlighted that the colourful art and loud music commonly associated with public service vehicles (PSVS) are Nairobi’s identity. He noted that PSV operators are permitted to play music loudly, giving passengers the freedom to choose vehicles that suit their individual preferences.
“Na hii mambo at graffiti na muziki wanasema ni mbaya, iyo ni ufala ya zamani sana. It is part of the culture. Kama mtu anataka matatu haina mziki angojee aingie yenye haina mziki na kama mtu anataka yenye iko na ngoma aingie yenye iko na ngoma,” Sakaja stated.
Loosely translated as:
“The complaints about loud music and graffiti on PSVs are outdated. That is part of the culture. If you want a car with no music, board a car with no music, and vice versa.”
The governor further revealed plans to launch a reward program that will celebrate the most outstanding vehicles and Saccos. The initiative will evaluate participants based on factors such as discipline, revenue performance, and creativity in graffiti design.
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