George Ruto’s matatus manager Kinara responds after Baba Yaga accident videos go viral
By Steve Ireri, September 30, 2026George Ruto’s matatus manager Kinara has broken his silence after viral videos purporting to show the popular Baba Yaga Nganya lying in a ditch sparked speculation that the customised matatu had been involved in an accident.
Speaking on the night of Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Kinara dismissed the videos, claiming they were artificially generated and insisting that Baba Yaga was safe and had not been involved in any accident.
Kinara, who has for a long time been associated with the popular Nganya and has since taken up a managerial role within Matatu Sacco 98, said he was aware of reports circulating online claiming that Baba Yaga had crashed.
He, however, sought to put the reports to rest by insisting that the matatu was at the premises and could be seen in good condition, questioning why people were circulating videos purporting to show it had crashed.
“Those reports are going round that Baba Yaga crashed, and I am the manager, and I want to say that those videos are AI-generated. The matatu is here. You can see it is well, and I wonder why you are all saying that it crashed,” Kinara said.
The manager further questioned the origin of the footage that had been circulating online, appearing to express disbelief that some people had resorted to creating artificial videos depicting the popular Nganya in an accident.
“Which videos are those that you have resorted to generating now?” he asked.
Kinara also appeared angered by the circulation of the footage, saying the person responsible for sharing the videos should feel bad about doing so because, according to him, Baba Yaga was at the premises and had not suffered the accident being claimed online.
“That person who shared those videos should feel bad because the matatu is here. I curse that person,” Kinara said.
His remarks came shortly after videos began circulating online purporting to show Baba Yaga lying on its side inside a large ditch, with several people gathered around the scene apparently trying to assess what had happened.
The footage appeared to show the heavily customised Nganya motionless in the ditch, with some of its distinctive interior neon lights seemingly still flickering as people milled around the vehicle.
The circulation of the videos quickly sparked speculation among matatu enthusiasts and followers of Baba Yaga, given the Nganya’s distinctive identity and its association with George Ruto’s growing presence in the matatu industry.
Kinara’s intervention, however, introduced a completely different account of what had happened, with the manager insisting that the footage did not depict a genuine accident involving the popular matatu.
For the longest time, Kinara was known as the driver of Baba Yaga before moving into a managerial position within Matatu Sacco 98, which is associated with George Ruto. His long association with the Nganya has also made him one of the familiar faces within the vehicle’s growing following.
Baba Yaga is among the most recognisable customised Nganyas plying Nairobi’s roads, predominantly operating along the CBD-Rongai route and attracting attention because of its elaborate John Wick-inspired design.
The matatu takes its name from the feared fictional character Baba Yaga, the legendary assassin played by Keanu Reeves in the popular John Wick film franchise, with its exterior and interior heavily incorporating imagery associated with the character.
Its distinctive bodywork features elaborate graffiti, while the interior carries detailed carvings, stickers and photographs inspired by John Wick’s signature appearance and style.
The Nganya has also previously been nominated at the Nganya Awards, which recognise some of Kenya’s most creatively customised matatus, although it has lost out to Embakasi’s Opposite in the competition.