“Nganya” is a slang term young people use to describe a stylish minibus known as a matatu. They are known for their exterior, which looks like an art gallery filled with celebrity pictures or animated characters. In the interior, loud music is usually played, and both large and small screens act as an infotainment display for the passengers.
Recently, photos of the Mood Matatu surfaced online a new Road King that will be on the way to the Nairobi suburbs. This vehicle’s front fascia has been completely reworked. At the top, you can see an LED light bar alongside a cluster of strobe lights. The headlight pattern gives the Mood Matatu an aggressive expression enhanced by features like the air inlet that sits adjacent to a large upper grille.
The enhancements don’t end there. Flanking the smaller lower grille are compound LED tri-lights, while at the bottom, four fog lights handle low-beam illumination. At the rear, a roof-mounted spoiler enhances Mood’s aerodynamics. An eye-shaped signal light bordered by a white LED strip mimics an intense glare, and a mouth-like light cluster completes the illusion of a face. The brake light runs from the middle, parallel to the top on one side, where it connects to a vertical LED light running to the other side’s brake light.
The Mood Matatu interior is something of a luxury disco; stepping in, you are received with a live DJ mixing deck, and the seats give a vibe of being inside a race car. Sources suggest that the Mood Matatu would receive a 65-inch TV set that will be mounted on the front passenger cabin and dozens of 24-inch TVs.
Mood Nganya is owned by George Ruto, who was spotted posing with a custom number plate labeled “MOOD.” The total cost for all the customization and the bus is estimated at $108,100 (14,000,000).
Although the exact model hasn’t been officially confirmed, it’s believed to be based on the Isuzu NQR81M platform, commonly used for matatus. The overall weight of the bus is 8,500 kg (18,740 pounds) and is powered by a 4778 CC 4HL1-TCS 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. It produces 150 horsepower at 2,600 rpm and 402 Nm of torque between 1,500 and 2,600 rpm. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission. The base vehicle itself costs around $54,392 (KSH 7,071,00).
