Eldoret residents – especially the ones from Maili Nne probably see it on a daily basis – but they may not know that the sky blue matatu with the registration KAL 203 X was once owned by George Kinyanjui ‘Mengo.’ Kinyanjui is the owner of the popular Climax Coaches.
This matatu currently plies the Eldoret Maili Nne – CBD route and is registered under the Maili Nne Main Stage Sacco.
Tisho, as it was known in the early 2000’s was one of the matatus that ruled the Kitale – Eldoret route. Those were the days when the matatus industry hit a boom, and investors went on to become multimillionaires.
During those days, Tisho was a real deal – fitted with multiple tennis balls on its antenna, a pararira and a whistling exhaust pipe that announced its entrance in various stages. That was the signature looks for most Toyota Shark vans that had just replaced Peugeot 504s pick-ups from the roads.
Tisho was the first Toyota Shark that George Kinyanjui owned. Within a few years, the owner purchased others including Kipembe, Komesha and Covenant.
After the 2007/8 post election violence, Kinyanjui sold all the matatus and began a supermarket business before inception of Climax Coaches.
So what happened to Tisho?
Tisho has over the years exchanged hands and one contractor, by the name Hesbon Omega, from Matunda acquired it for PSV business. Omega owned the vehicle for a long term and entrusted Joash, his driver with the care and maintenance.
Omega would go on to purchase other matatus before he sold Tisho.
It was then acquired by the son of former M/B Travellers Sacco chairman. It plied the Moi’s Bridge – Eldoret route. By this time, it had been renamed ‘Chini ya Maji.’
The van would exit the PSV business for private roles and was used to transport livestock, chicken and charcoal from villages deep in Kanyarkwat, West Pilot County. If you had seen it cruising up the tough terrain of West Pokot, you’d mistake it for an off-road Land Cruiser.
Making The PSV Comeback
Tisho was later bought by an Eldoret businessman for use in public service transport. It plies the Eldoret Main Stage – Maili Nne route. Its current market value is around Ksh 300000.