By By Magdalene Wanja - Reporter
Kenya, 9 January 2026 - Matatus are among the oldest and most popular forms of transport in Kenya’s major cities.
Beyond transportation, they represent a distinct culture with its own rhythm and way of life.
The daily stories that unfold within this space inspired Kinyanjui Mungai, Creative Director at Hadithi Motion Pictures, to begin a project aimed at telling these often-overlooked narratives. This led to the creation of Mwatana Culture, which, he says, grew from a simple realization: the matatu is one of the most democratic spaces in Kenya.
“It’s where people from all walks of life intersect. I wanted to tell stories from that space, stories that play out every day but often go unnoticed. The vision was to frame the matatu as a vibrant urban community. Over time, Mwatana Culture became our signature way of telling local, resonant stories that audiences can immediately step into,” he adds.
Beyond this, the details of matatu culture, often described as the heartbeat of Kenyan urban life, continue to evolve and diversify. It is expressive, edgy, noisy, and full of life.
“I see matatus as a canvas,” he says. “In the seats, the music, the graffiti, the banter, the arguments over fare,everything speaks to identity, survival, and ambition. For me, it represents movement and community.”
The matatu sector resonates with a large percentage of Kenyans, and at Hadithi, authenticity remains central to the work. “We invest in the language, the gestures, even the silences we observe,” he explains.
The team at Hadithi Motion Pictures is driven by a passion for narrative development, using immersive storytelling techniques to inspire reflection and behavior change.
“When audiences see themselves, their routes, their daily lives, their small triumphs, they feel seen. That resonance is powerful.”
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Audience feedback has played a critical role in shaping the project. Some viewers reached out saying, “That is exactly what happens on my route every day,” affirming that the stories reflected real experiences. Others felt the focus leaned too heavily on the negative aspects of matatu life, without enough balance.
“That feedback taught us to be more careful about representation, to aim for nuance rather than generalisation,” he notes. These conversations helped broaden the team’s perspective.
As Hadithi began working more with corporate clients, where the audience often includes customers rather than general viewers, a new balance became necessary. “It’s tricky knowing where to draw the line between keeping the work creative, fun, and energetic like Mwatana, while also maintaining the structure and seriousness corporate brands expect,” he says.
Learning to blend authenticity with professionalism has been a key part of the company’s growth.
A major turning point came when Hadithi started receiving steady commissions from NGOs, corporate clients, and long-term partners, moving beyond passion projects alone. To grow sustainably and maintain quality, the team had to introduce formal systems, that include contracts, processes, and clear workflows. Around the same time, Mungai underwent financial training at Centonomy.
“Learning money management was crucial,” he reflects. “It taught me how to manage finances, save, preserve, and reinvest to create more value.” That shift in mindset marked a transition from operating as a project-based initiative to building a sustainable company.
However, the transition from grassroots storytelling to the corporate space came with challenges. These included learning how to package creative ideas into clear proposals, budgets, and timelines.
Building the right team, one capable of sustaining long-term processes, not just delivering quick creative wins, was another hurdle. Cash flow management, from invoicing to covering overheads, remained a constant challenge. And at times, client expectations did not fully align with the stories the team wanted to tell.
“Learning how to manage that tension is still an ongoing process,” he says.
