George Ruto's Mood Driver Lenny Dismisses Claims Police Fear His Matatu: "Ni Gari Kama Zingine"
- George Ruto’s flashy fleet of matatus has repeatedly drawn criticism for flaunting traffic rules, with past incidents stirring concern over reckless road behaviour
- In a recent interview, the driver of George’s newest matatu, Mood, Lenny, responded to claims that traffic police are too intimidated to stop their vehicles
- Lenny also shed light on the reason behind the matatus' high speeds while driving in the CBD, offering a surprising justification
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President William Ruto's son, George Kimutai Ruto, recently launched his latest matatu, and a week later, it is still the talk of the town.
Source: Instagram
The vehicle, which adds to George’s flashy and fast-growing fleet, has been dubbed Kenya One by matatu enthusiasts, a title usually reserved for the most iconic and flamboyant ride in the city.
Do George Ruto's matatu's obey traffic rules?
However, with that fame has come scrutiny, especially from Kenyans questioning the behaviour of the matatus linked to the president’s son on Nairobi’s roads.
In the past, George’s other matatus, MoneyFest and Matrix, have sparked controversy over road conduct.
MoneyFest was once impounded by NTSA after a viral video showed two men dangerously hanging on top of it while in motion.
The same vehicle had earlier been caught overtaking recklessly in heavy traffic, right in front of a traffic officer who did nothing.
Matrix was also recently seen dangerously swerving along City Hall Way, a zone usually off-limits to regular matatus due to the concentration of government buildings nearby.
Barely 48 hours after Mood's launch, the vehicle was seemingly involved in a brief standoff with a police car in the CBD.
Bystanders, protective of the matatu, were overheard warning the officers not to dare scratch it, claiming such an incident could cost them their jobs, or at the very least, see them transferred.
These repeated events have sparked debate online, with many Kenyans wondering aloud: Do police officers fear George Ruto’s matatus?
Source: Instagram
What did Mood's driver say about obeying traffic rules?
In a recent interview with Ghetto Radio, Mood’s driver, Lenny, addressed the speculation head-on.
He denied the widely held belief that the vehicles are untouchable.
"Yes, they (police) can stop us, why wouldn’t they? They even stopped me the other day when I was driving it. The police are here to help us," he stated confidently.
When asked whether police avoid stopping them out of fear of facing severe consequences for dealing with vehicles linked to the president’s family, Lenny quickly dismissed it as a social media myth.
"Those are just stories on the internet. The police stop our vehicles, and we do comply. You just need to know how to coexist with them peacefully, because even they are working. You can’t tell them not to stop a certain vehicle, why would you? That’s their job," he said.
While he shied away from answering questions about whether they bribe police officers, Lenny insisted that matatus in George’s fleet operate like any other in the city.
He also addressed accusations of recklessness and impunity, arguing that people often confuse speed with indiscipline.
"People confuse being fast with impunity. The thing with these matatus is that they’re fast. These matatus observe time, because time is money," he said.
Watch the interview below:
Was Mood returned to the garage after launch?
Sources who spoke to TUKO.co.ke disclosed that Mood was taken back to the garage shortly after its iconic unveiling.
They claimed the matatu sustained damage during the grand launch, with windows reportedly broken amid the excitement from fans.
The insider also suggested that the vehicle might have developed mechanical problems.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
