President Ruto Halts NTSA Graffiti Ban on Matatus

Kenyan President William Ruto instructed the National Transport and Safety Authority to rescind its prohibition and planned enforcement against matatu graffiti, artistic decorations, and window tints. During a meeting with public transport sector representatives at State House in Mombasa on May 22, President Ruto requested NTSA to abandon the plans that had received judicial approval. This decision provides immediate comfort to public transport vehicle owners and creative artists following extended legal disputes about Kenya’s well-known nganya transportation customs. “I have instructed NTSA to create conditions allowing matatu operators to maintain artwork and graffiti on their vehicles while ensuring safety and consideration for other road users,” the President stated. In May 2025, NTSA mandated public transport vehicles to eliminate graffiti, decorative elements, and additional window tints, initiating a prolonged conflict concerning Kenya’s unique matatu heritage. The agency, headed by Director-General George Njao, indicated that non-compliant operators would face consequences such as vehicle confiscation, license suspension, and denial of access to the agency’s digital platform. NTSA defended the regulation based on safety concerns, claiming extensive exterior designs and dark window treatments impaired driver visibility and hindered police observation of vehicle interiors. The organization also maintained that the decorations concealed mandatory identification elements, including registered SACCO names, designated routes, and the standard yellow stripe marking public transport vehicles. Matatu operators contested the regulation before the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi. The operators contended that the prohibition infringed upon constitutional rights to cultural and artistic expression. Through legal representation, the operators further claimed the agency neglected adequate public consultation and provided no proof connecting vehicle graffiti to traffic accidents. On April 29, 2026, High Court Justice Bahati Mwamuye rejected the petition, negatively impacting an industry employing numerous young Kenyan citizens. The judge determined that the directive was legally sound and constitutional, with public safety taking priority over artistic freedom. The court concluded that the agency had followed appropriate legal protocols, enabling nationwide implementation against adorned public transport vehicles. During his remarks, President Ruto voiced disapproval of the NTSA’s directive, questioning, “Transport operators have informed me they must remove graffiti, and I wonder, why?” NTSA must now revoke the regulation, though President Ruto has permitted the agency some flexibility in managing graffiti standards.