Perhaps one of the most overlooked privileges is not wealth itself, but having enough margin in your life to respond to reality. Over the last few years, we have become fluent in the language of privilege, speaking easily about financial privilege, pretty privilege, racial privilege, passport privilege, educational privilege and social privilege, and in doing so we have become increasingly aware that people do not all start from the same place and that some doors open more easily for some than for others. Yet there is one form of privilege that seems to receive far less attention, and that is the privilege of being able to do something with the information you have, not simply knowing, but acting, because the truth is that information alone changes very little. We like to imagine that if people only knew better, they would do better, and entire industries are built around this assumption, from self-help books and documentaries to podcasts, awareness campaigns, public health initiative...
If you live in Kenya, chances are you've had your fair share of traumatic, hilarious, or downright life-threatening experiences on either a matatu or a boda boda . These two transport options are the backbone of our daily hustle, but let’s not sugarcoat things—they are also sources of endless frustration and chaos. Matatus are a cultural phenomenon, doubling as mobile nightclubs, social classrooms, and financial black holes (fare hikes, anyone?). Boda bodas, on the other hand, are the adrenaline junkie’s dream (or nightmare). One moment you’re at point A, the next, you’re airborne over a pothole wondering if your life insurance is still valid. So, let’s talk about the good, the bad, and the outright ridiculous aspects of these transport options and how they can revolutionize Kenyan society (if only they got their act together). Matatu Madness: The Club on Wheels 1. The Glitz and Glamour of Kenyan Matatus Kenyan matatus are world-famous for their graffiti-style art , blasting musi...