"No Mercy, No Remorse.: Personal Experience Narratives about Public Passenger Transportation in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Personal experience narratives about riding on Kenya's public passenger vehicles, commonly called matatu, form part of Nairobi residents' everyday conversations. These first-person, single-episodic narratives describe experiences of verbal and physical abuse, theft, hijacking, and violence, and women use them to describe sexual harassment and rape. Personal experience narratives help Nairobi's commuters cope with traumatic events and deal with the anger and frustration associated with riding in matatu, and they function as an informal information system. They provide strategies for dealing with the problems and personal risks associated with matatu, and articulate a powerful commentary on life in a large, African metropolis.