Tuk-Tuks Overtake Donkey Carts in Nyeri’s Transport Scene
NYERI, Kenya, Aug. 11 (Xinhua and The Dispatch. Digital reporter) — Just two kilometers outside the central Kenyan town of Nyeri, along the bustling highway linking the town to Nairobi, one cannot miss the sight of the well-tended giant evergreen trees under whose shade rest dozens of donkeys.
For decades, the meeting point area in Nyeri has stuck to donkey-pulled carts, a traditional mode of transport. Unique to this town, Nyeri has designated an area known as Ruring’u donkey bay, akin to bus or taxi parks in other regions.
In Nyeri and its environs, donkeys have long been used to transport various goods, including sawdust, firewood, fodder, building materials like timber and stones, and household goods for tenants moving houses. However, in recent years, Chinese-made motor rickshaws, popularly known as tuk-tuks, have gradually taken over the yard, which was once home to more than 50 donkeys and carts.
The introduction of tuk-tuks has prompted traders to abandon the challenges associated with donkey carts. Mwangi Githae, one of the oldest traders at the bay, is among those who have replaced their donkey carts with tuk-tuks.
“We’ve been transitioning from donkeys to tuk-tuks due to the three-wheelers’ high reliability compared to the beasts of burden,” Githae told Xinhua in a recent interview.
The importation of Chinese tuk-tuks began about two decades ago, providing an affordable alternative for traders who could not afford vehicles. Tuk-tuks have since created jobs and offered a cheaper, faster, and more reliable mode of transportation for millions of Kenyans.
The option for buyers to purchase tuk-tuks through installment plans has further facilitated the transition to this more efficient means of transport. A tuk-tuk in Kenya costs between 2,700 and 3,875 U.S. dollars, depending on its capacity and make, while the cost of a donkey is only 7,000 shillings (about 54 U.S. dollars), with an additional 77.5 dollars for building a cart. With just about 132 dollars, one could comfortably start a donkey cart business.
However, compared to donkeys, which can only cover short distances, tuk-tuks can travel hundreds of kilometers per day. They are faster, more effective, and can carry heavier loads with passengers and riders onboard.
Additionally, tuk-tuk operators find relief in avoiding disputes with Nyeri County officials over letting animals loose in town. “Many times, we would get into conflicts with farmers after donkeys strayed into their fields, destroying crops. In some cases, farmers would attack and wound the animals,” Githae explained, noting that tracking down stray donkeys often wasted valuable time.
Peter Gitonga joined the growing list of traders upgrading from donkey carts to tuk-tuks about two years ago. He noted that while the longest distance he could cover with a donkey was 20 kilometers daily, a tuk-tuk allows him to cover up to 200 kilometers a day.
Maina Karuoho, who started at the bay in 2007 with a donkey cart, switched to a tuk-tuk about two years ago. He mentioned that the most popular models at the yard are Dayun and Captain, whose spare parts are readily available in Nyeri.
