Meet the Nairobi County MCA who takes a matatu to work

Kariobangi North MCA, Michael Karanja.   Photo: Collins Kweyu

While his colleagues across the country agitate for hefty car grants, Kariobangi rep Michael ‘Snaich’ Wainaina takes a matatu to the County Assembly every morning.

Snaich told The Nairobian that a car is not a priority for him because of poor services and roads in Kariobangi.

“I haven’t bought a car because I set some targets that I must first meet before I buy a vehicle,” Snaich told The Nairobian. “One of my goals is to unblock the ever-clogged sewerage system.”

He says sewerage pipes in Kariobangi have been clogged since the 1960s.

He adds that jumping over sewage and muddy roads every time serves as a constant reminder that he needs to sort the problem. Snaich explains that getting a car at this time might make him forget important issues.

“The roads are really bad and before I start driving, I want to ensure that they have been repaired. Walking in the mud in the rainy season ensures I don’t sleep on the job. My wife once fell in water-filled pothole while taking our kid to school in the morning,” he reveals.

Every morning, 36-year-old ‘Snaich’ walks to the matatu stage like everybody else.

“Everyone wants me to board their vehicle,” he says, “So, what I do is board a different matatu every day, just to create a sense of fairness.”

Whenever he pays his fare with Sh200 or Sh500, some conductors jokingly ask: “Mheshimiwa nikupe change ya pesa ngapi?” (how much change should I give you sir).

“Sometimes I take the change, while other times I let them keep it,” says the MCA who prefers jeans and a T-shirt over a suit and tie.

Snaich, who always asks for a ride from fellow MCAs when attending functions out of town, says some of his colleagues seek his advice on road safety and car maintenance because he is a former mechanic.

On the issue of car grants for MCAs, Wainaina claims the matter has been blown out of proportion by the media.

“No one has asked for a car, and if anything, the Sh2 million is not a grant, but a loan,” he says. “Personally, I would rather be given the Sh2 million to tarmac one or two roads, “he adds.