Nonprofits & Activism

A feminist reimagining of Kenya’s public transport | Naomi Mwaura

Visit to watch more groundbreaking talks from the TED Fellows. Kenya’s minibuses — known as “matatus” — offer a convenient, affordable and colorful way for people to get around. But they also pose safety risks and accessibility issues for many of their passengers, especially women. Bringing a feminist perspective, activist and TED Fellow Naomi Mwaura…

Published

5 years ago

June 9, 2021

CYBER TECH TV

Visit to watch more groundbreaking talks from the TED Fellows.

Kenya’s minibuses — known as “matatus” — offer a convenient, affordable and colorful way for people to get around. But they also pose safety risks and accessibility issues for many of their passengers, especially women. Bringing a feminist perspective, activist and TED Fellow Naomi Mwaura calls for a revolution in public transportation by making routes transparent, protecting passengers from harassment and paving a career path for women in the industry.

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.

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[SHAPE YOUR FUTURE]

In Kenya, buses are commonly
known as “matatus.”

They’re everywhere —
and I mean everywhere.

And they form a very crucial part
of Kenyans’ urban life.

They’re fun, colorfully painted buses

with graffiti that depicts
what is going on in Kenya

and the world at large.

They’re informal and affordable ways
for Kenyans to get around

and are used by the vast majority
as the main mode of transportation.

But they have a couple of flaws.

They can be a bit too loud,

drive on the wrong side of the road

to avoid traffic

and can be inaccessible for women,
children and people with disabilities.

Back in the 90s, my family
was in the matatu business

and ran a popular graffiti matatu
called “Gridlock’d.”

“Gridlock’d” was an American
black comedy film

starring the popular rapper Tupac Shakur.

My uncles loved Tupac, and as a result,

I can still sing along
to most of his songs.

Seven years ago, I stepped into
the family business,

and I brought a twist with me —
a feminist perspective.

And this is what informs this perspective:

women all over the world face sexual
harassment while using public transport.

In Kenya, 88 percent of women
have experienced harassment

while using public transportation.

Unfortunately, we Kenyans are not alone.

In a 2014 study conducted in the US,

public transportation was
the second-most common place

for street harassment.

This percentage is even higher
in Cairo, Egypt,

where a whopping 95 percent of women
have experienced harassment

while using public transportation.

This percentage ranges all over the world,

but there’s not a single transport system

where women do not face
this type of harassment.

This leads to a massive
financial loss for women,

more commute time as they try
to avoid dangerous routes,

and eventually, they drop out of a system
that isn’t built for them

and doesn’t cater to their travel needs.

So instead of women using affordable

and environmentally sustainable
public transportation

to work, school and social events,

they use their hard-earned
and saved monies

on safer but much more expensive
means of transportation

that leaves them out of building savings
to ensure financial independence.

I cringe when newspaper headlines read,
“Let’s get rid of matatus,”

because millions of commuters
would be stranded

and thousands of youths unemployed.

They say, “The system doesn’t work.
Let’s get rid of it.”

But I say no.

We have a lot to work with,
and we need to put in the work.

For the past seven years,

we’ve worked with over 1,000+
public transport operators,

2,000 transport stakeholders

and over 150 women professionals
in the industry.

The interventions that have yielded great
impact are driven by research findings

and working with public
transport organizations

to change the existing systems.

One way we are doing this
is by offering trainings

on how to improve commuter experience.

For example, it used to be that buses
would unexpectedly change their route

either to avoid traffic

or the police,

and women would find themselves
in totally unknown neighborhoods.

But now, buses are required
to display their route map,

fare charts

and contact details of how and whom
to report any incidences.

We’ve also been actively recruiting
and shining a spotlight

on women professionals
working in the industry

so more women can join.

When more women work in the industry,
they are in positions to make changes.

So we’ve created a community,
and an active network

of women professionals working
in the Nairobi metropolitan area

who meet regularly and attend
professional development courses.

Women who are joining the industry
have a real voice now.

We have a stronger network,

more and more expertise,

and more money is being put into
researching gender-based violence

that plagues women
as they go about their day.

So instead of getting rid of matatus,

let’s understand travel habits.

Let’s train on how to improve
commuter experience.

Let’s change behavior.

Let’s train on and adopt
sexual harassment policies,

and let’s hire a more diverse workforce.

Just like myself and my family,

I believe public transportation can be
the preferred mode of transport

and workplace for millions of Kenyans.

Related Topics:Africa Equality featured Feminism gender TED Fellows TED Talk TED Talks TEDTalk TEDTalks transportation

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29 Comments

Eli Nope

June 9, 2021 at 1:39 pm

I have seen plenty of feminist ideas over the last decade, can we get a male extremist and racist perspective? I feel like you aren’t being very inclusive.

Reply
- Jommy Davi
  
  June 10, 2021 at 12:30 am
  
  “A Nazi’s solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict” make it happen TED
  
  Reply
Patrice Silva

June 9, 2021 at 1:43 pm

Father God I ask you in the name of Jesus please help all of their bad situations protect n shield them walk with them always and please improve all of their situation.

Reply
Someone Who Stans Way Too Many Groups

June 9, 2021 at 1:44 pm

Such a shame that a channel meant for educating people has attracted so many bitter and close-minded viewers. Chin up ladies, you guys still have a long battle ahead of you. But you guys have to keep fighting and raising your voices. This generation might be a lost cause, but we still have hope of building a better society for the next generation❤️

Reply
Marcus Evans

June 9, 2021 at 1:45 pm

All my Kenyan stand-up

Reply
Anthony

June 9, 2021 at 1:54 pm

Feminism has never fixed anything. Only made things worse.

Reply
- Anthony
  
  June 9, 2021 at 5:38 pm
  
  @Joannot learn some history. Wyoming gave women he right to vote back in the 1890s. Waaaaay before feminism was a thing.
  
  Reply
- Rahim Rahim
  
  June 9, 2021 at 6:21 pm
  
  you are right ????
  
  Reply
- Ricky boy
  
  June 9, 2021 at 8:12 pm
  
  Yea I love my mom but i don’t want to her to vote… Also not moving to a third world country. My mom and all women i know would be better off never talking to a feminist. Feminism is cancer always.
  
  Reply
Derty Grows-it

June 9, 2021 at 1:55 pm

Women need to learn defensive skills. Not just yelling for justice. That does not work if you are alone in wilderness of the third world countries with limited police resources to protect the innocent of the world. This is why you must defense yourself with skills to be able to overcome these reality of life.

Reply
Big Dee

June 9, 2021 at 2:23 pm

Sub Saharan Africa is full of the stone aged … completely unable and dependent on others

Reply
Sannidor

June 9, 2021 at 2:26 pm

You lost me at “feminist”.

Reply
Krunoslav Stifter

June 9, 2021 at 2:44 pm

What could possibly go wrong when you let feminist (communists in a skirt) to play with other people’s money? Hmmm!

Reply
Mkurugenzi Mkuu

June 9, 2021 at 2:51 pm

I’m Kenyan, and I’m one of those who hold the view that matatus should be banished from major cities and towns in Kenya. Below is why.

In the early years of our independence, commute buses within towns and cities were managed by the municipals. The bus operators and conductors were charged to keep strict bus schedules. It didn’t matter if the bus went empty or not, the staff were on regular wages. Upcountry routes were run by private entities, and they too mimicked what the municipals did – regular bus time schedules and regular wages.

Then came the 80’s and the government made what I believe to date is one of the worst transportation policy change in out country. That was after the state-owned municipal buses were denied funding and thus died off. The government allowed private individuals to own and operate buses, now nicknamed matatus. One thing greatly differed in their model – the driver and conductors were not on wages/salaries but on commission. That meant a bus half-full was no good when compared to a full bus. Soon, gone were the days of very easy and reliable commutes and in came speeding and overloading during rush hours (more commuters and more trips = more money), and off-peak delays at the bus stops as each bus dwelled longer at each stop waiting for commuters to fill the matatus (no commuters = no money).

The solution is easy. Compel those who venture into this industry to have their staff on regular wages. A major player in Nairobi (Express Connections Ltd) has a fleet of proper buses that charge a bit more than regular matatus (what I mean by proper buses is some matatus have seats that are 30-35 cm /12-14 inches wide that are unbearable even when two small-bodied persons seat together, all so that they could squeeze in more commuters). Since that company’s drivers and conductors are on wages, the buses are driven in a less rough and much more comfortable speed. And the waiting times at the bus stops are a lot less dramatic and time consuming.

I probably have oversimplified both the problems and solutions in this one comment. But one fact still remains. The government needs to take charge, to save Kenya’s commuters from the matatu men and women.

Reply
- StrangerEyes
  
  June 9, 2021 at 3:19 pm
  
  You sir have a great deal of common sense and understanding of the situation. Colorful graffiti wont fix anything, a reliable public transport system will. What “presenters” like the woman above ignore is, that in order to have a functioning economy, you need reliable public transport so commuters can plan and schedule working days and the travel from and to the workplace reliably and safely. Only then companies can plan reliably, produce reliably and at the end, grow and make everyone more well off reliably. Many first world people take public transport that works like a clock for granted and forget that this is one of the major pillars successful economies rely on.
  
  Please dont stop being the mature voice, your country needs you.
  
  Reply
- A R B
  
  June 9, 2021 at 4:50 pm
  
  @StrangerEyes you sir, speaking God Level Truth
  
  Reply
Suresh Ravichandran

June 9, 2021 at 2:53 pm

Good luck ????

Reply
Rimantas

June 9, 2021 at 3:05 pm

Famaly courts of law or first place in usa and world wher man get harassment and abuse

Reply
English IELTS

June 9, 2021 at 3:11 pm

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Reply
AN ENTIRE SLEEVE OF OREOS

June 9, 2021 at 3:23 pm

angry men: *sees the word ‘feminist’ in title*
angry men: thumb points down

Reply
A Reader in Scotland

June 9, 2021 at 3:34 pm

This can be inspiring for other problematic sides of the society. Annihilation of an unpleasant system may not work for all time, rather worsen people’s life. Instead, have a positive impact on people’s traditional behaviour so that they can lead to changes gradually.

Reply
- Julio Pedro
  
  June 9, 2021 at 3:38 pm
  
  Hello
  
  Reply
أم الحسن

June 9, 2021 at 3:39 pm

ALSALAM ALYKOM
قال تعالى” ومن يعمل مثقال ذرة خيرا يره”
I am your sister “UM AL HASSAN ” from PALESTINE _GAZA STRIP

The great responsibility and difficult life circumstances deprived us of the simplest necessities of life

Since my husband died, may Allah have mercy on him, and I have been raising my orphan children, and we are in a state of extreme poverty that no human or even animal can tolerate

I live in an old, dilapidated house with rent, I have accumulated debts, and the owner of the house may expel me at any time

In order to be able to provide food for my children, he was forced to sell in the streets and intersections

I desperately need your help my Muslim brothers everywhere

anything you can donate will be useful for me and my children

Qaal Rasul Allah (whoever removes a grief from a believer from amongest the sorrows of this life, Allah will remove a grief from him amongest the sorrows of the day of Resurrection)

Reply
adibers

June 9, 2021 at 4:47 pm

Write the word feminist in the title and all the triggered men will be flocking the comments section ????

Reply
Ricky boy

June 9, 2021 at 8:10 pm

Feminism is cancer >.>

Reply
SSDi Boi

June 9, 2021 at 8:16 pm

Because if ur saying harrassment than I assume these professional women or r they jus sum vagabond chik wearing skimpy clothes) sooo yea I would say women need 2 respect the natural way of life n stop thinking every1 is harassing u

Reply
Monteiro

June 9, 2021 at 9:21 pm

Great job, all the best!

Reply
canturgan

June 9, 2021 at 11:26 pm

Why don’t they have women only buses?

Reply
- Jommy Davi
  
  June 10, 2021 at 12:28 am
  
  That’s called segregation. People kinda fought against that back in the day
  
  Reply

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