Kinara 001: Meet the matatu industry veteran now managing George Ruto’s flashy 98 Sacco fleet

Kinara, the young manager of President William Ruto’s son George Ruto’s 98 Sacco, has carved out a name for himself in Nairobi’s vibrant matatu industry, where he is known for his long-standing association with some of the city’s most popular nganyas.

The matatu personality has been behind the wheel of several recognisable city nganyas over the years, a journey that has seen him rise through the ranks of the industry before eventually taking up a managerial role at George Ruto’s rapidly expanding 98 Sacco.

Kinara has previously driven Money Fest, one of the flashy nganyas that gained popularity in Nairobi, before moving to Moxie and later joining Baba Yaga, another highly customised matatu associated with George’s growing fleet.

His journey behind the wheel has consequently taken him through some of the most recognisable names in Nairobi’s nganya scene, giving him years of experience navigating an industry known for its elaborate vehicles, entertainment features and fiercely loyal crews.

But beyond the vehicles he has driven, Kinara has also developed a distinct identity of his own, with the matatu industry personality maintaining a strong presence among fellow drivers and crews.

In a past interview conducted in 2025, Kinara explained the meaning behind the name he has adopted, saying it reflects the position he believes he has earned after spending many years in the matatu industry.

“Kinara, just like the name says, it means I am well respected in the matatu industry and I am their leader. That name came because of the many years I have been in the matatu industry,” he said.

Kinara went on to make a bold claim about his longevity behind the wheel, saying he considers himself the oldest nganya driver in terms of the number of years he has spent in the profession.

“Right now, there is no nganya driver who can say he started this job earlier than me. I am the oldest, and they have to look at me as an example. And that’s why you always see that wherever I go, everything goes well,” he said.

His comments offer an insight into the confidence with which Kinara approaches his position in the matatu industry, where experience and reputation can play a significant role in determining the influence of individual drivers and crew members.

That experience has now found a new outlet at 98 Sacco, where Kinara has taken on the role of manager as George continues to expand his footprint in Nairobi’s highly competitive nganya industry.

In a new video shared by 98 Sacco, Kinara introduced himself as the person managing the sacco while offering details about the routes served by its growing fleet.

“I am Kinara, the manager of this 98 Sacco. Our matatus ply the Rongai and Kiserian routes,” he said.

Kinara explained that the vehicles operate from Nairobi’s central business district towards Rongai and Kiserian, with Kiserian serving as the final stage for the route.

“Our matatus go up to Kiserian. That’s the last stage,” he said.

He also broke down the fares charged by the matatus, giving passengers an indication of how much they pay depending on their destination.

“From town to Kiserian we charge 150, and to Exciting we charge 130, and to Rongai we charge 100,” Kinara said.

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