The Daraja students have officially returned to campus after a three-week break and their first lesson already occurred during their transport back to Nanyuki, a town a half hour away from Daraja Academy.

The students take a matatu from their respective homes to Nanyuki. A matatu is a mini van used for public transport and one of the most popular modes of transportation in the country.  It’s rather typical to be overcharged by an aggressive matatu driver as he is trying to make an extra buck. To get a fair price, you have to be just as clever. And apparently, you are not exempt from the tricks of the trade, even if you are a young woman in school uniform.

Since Nanyuki is half hour away from the school, members of the Daraja staff pick up the students from Nanyuki and take them to campus. The picture above is the ride from Nanyuki to campus, the girls having seen each other for the first time in weeks. Hot Topic of the Ride? Form 1s realizing they got ripped off by the matatu drivers…

Alice A, Form 1: “I gave that matatu driver 500 shillings for a 350 shilling ride and he never gave me my change back!”

Anastacia, Form 1: “You paid 350 shillings from Nakuru to Nanyuki? The driver charged me 550 shillings!”

Thankfully, not everyone was duped:

Caroline, Form 2: “This man tried to charge me before he even showed me if he had a car. I refused!”

Small signs of empowerment- Our form 2 girls understand their rights and have learned how NOT to be ripped off by the matatu drivers! Ah, the Form 1s will learn soon enough!……