Nairobi Matatu Routes and Stages

Navigating Nairobi’s bustling public transport system can be daunting, especially when trying to find the right matatu or bus to your destination. This guide provides a clear and detailed overview of Nairobi’s major matatu routes, their corresponding route numbers, and boarding locations, ensuring you can travel confidently to various parts of the city and its outskirts. Inspired by personal experiences of boarding the wrong matatu, this resource aims to simplify your journey.

Below is a comprehensive list of key matatu routes, destinations, and where to board them in Nairobi.

Matatu Routes and Boarding Points

Route Number 1
Destinations: Ngong Road, Citam/NPC Valley Road, The Junction Mall, Dagoretti
Boarding Point: General Post Office (GPO)
Route Number 2
Destinations: Ngong Road, Citam/NPC Valley Road, The Junction Mall, Dagoretti, Kikuyu
Boarding Point: GPO or KBS Stage
Route Number 3
Destinations: Ngong Road, Adams Arcade, Dagoretti Corner
Boarding Point: GPO
Route Number 4
Destinations: Ngong Road, Adams Arcade, Dagoretti
Boarding Point: Kencom or GPO
Route Number 6
Destinations: Eastleigh Area, Pangani Girls, Pangani Shopping Centre
Boarding Point: Kariokor Market, Accra Road, or along Tom Mboya Street (mini-buses using Kariokor Market route)
Route Number 7C
Destinations: Community, Upper Hill Area, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, Doctors Plaza, Silver Springs Hotel
Boarding Point: Citi Hoppa or KBS buses at Kencom House, opposite Hilton Hotel along Moi Avenue
Route Number 8
Destinations: Ngong Road, Kibera Slums, Adams Arcade, Toi Market
Boarding Point: Railways Bus Station
Route Number 9
Destinations: Eastleigh Area, Ngara Civil Servants Housing Scheme, K.I.E, Pangani Roundabout, Fig Tree Trade Center Ngara
Boarding Point: Tom Mboya Street or near former Tuskys Beba Beba Supermarket (via Ngara Route)
Route Number 11
Destinations: South B, Bellevue
Boarding Point: Railways Bus Station
Route Number 15
Destinations: Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi West, Madaraka, Tuskys T-Mall, Wilson Airport, Carnivore Simba Saloon, Uhuru Gardens, Langata Shopping Centre, Otiende, Barracks, Langata Cemetery, Nairobi Safari Walk, Nairobi National Park, Nairobi Animal Orphanage
Boarding Point: Bus Station main stage or opposite Afya Centre (subject to availability due to county askaris)
Route Number 14
Destinations: Langata Road up to T-Mall, Strathmore University, Nairobi West
Boarding Point: Bus Station behind Afya Centre
Route Number 17B
Destinations: Thika Road, Thika Superhighway, Roysambu, Kasarani, Santon, Mwiki, St Francis Hospital
Boarding Point: Inside Kenya Bus Station or outside near St Peter Claver’s Catholic Church
Route Number 23
Destinations: Kangemi, Westlands, Uhuru Highway, ABC Place, Safaricom House
Boarding Point: Odeon Cinema or Latema Road off Tom Mboya Street
Route Number 24
Destinations: Karen Shopping Centre, Hardy, Langata Road, Bogani, Bomas of Kenya, Galleria Shopping Mall, Catholic University, Kenya School of Law, Nairobi Academy, Hillcrest International School, Animal Protection, Co-op Bank Training Centre, Giraffe Centre, Karen C School
Boarding Point: Kenya Bus Station, Mfangano Street, or main buses at Kencom House along Moi Avenue
Route Number 25
Destinations: Baba Ndogo, Thika Road up to GSU Flyover
Boarding Point: Timboroa Lane
Route Number 33 (Ngumo Route)
Destinations: Ngumo Estate, Kenyatta National Hospital, Mbagathi, Masai Market
Boarding Point: Opposite St Peter Claver’s Catholic Church or near OTC/Salvation Army areas
Route Number 33 (Embakasi Route)
Destinations: Embakasi, Jogoo Road, Donholm, City Stadium, Pipeline, Tumaini Estate, Fedha Estate, Avenue Estate
Boarding Point: Muthurwa Market or along Tom Mboya Street opposite National Archives
Route Number 34 (Matatus)
Destinations: Langata Area, Mbagathi Road, Kenyatta National Hospital, T-Mall, Wilson Airport, Carnivore, Langata Shopping Centre
Boarding Point: Behind St Peter Claver’s Catholic Church or opposite OTC
Route Number 34 (Buses)
Destinations: JKIA, Jogoo Road, Embakasi, Fedha, Donholm, Pipeline, Utawala, sometimes Mombasa Road
Boarding Point: Kencom or Ambassador Stage
Route Number 35/60
Destinations: Umoja Innercore, Umoja I, Umoja II
Boarding Point: Ronald Ngala Street at Mfangano Street intersection, opposite Naivas Supermarket
Route Number 44
Destinations: Kahawa West, Kamiti Maximum Prison, Zimmerman, Githurai 44, Roysambu, USIU, Farmers Choice, Northern Bypass
Boarding Point: Nakumatt Ronald Ngala Street or matatus from former Tuskys Beba Beba
Route Number 45
Destinations: Thika Road, Thika Superhighway, Githurai 45
Boarding Point: Nakumatt Ronald Ngala Street opposite Posta
Route Number 58
Destinations: Buru Buru
Boarding Point: Tom Mboya Street opposite National Archives
Route Number 100
Destinations: Kiambu Town, Kiambu Road, Sharks Palace, CID Centre, Ridgeways, Rock City Kiambu Road, Muthaiga Roundabout
Boarding Point: Ronald Ngala Street to Ring-Road Ngara or opposite St Peter Claver’s Catholic Church
Route Number 102
Destinations: Kikuyu Township, Dagoretti, Ngong Road, The Junction Mall
Boarding Point: Bus Station or Kencom
Route Number 105
Destinations: Kikuyu via Uhuru Highway, Westlands, Kangemi, Uthiru, Kinoo
Boarding Point: Tom Mboya Street near National Archives or Railways Bus Station
Route Number 106
Destinations: Banana, Muchatha, Village Market
Boarding Point: Koja Mosque Stage
Route Number 110
Destinations: Kitengela, Mlolongo, Athi River
Boarding Point: Railways Station entrance
Route Number 111
Destinations: Ngong, Ngong Road, Dagoretti Corner, sometimes Kiserian
Boarding Point: Kencom or Railways Bus Station
Route Number 125/126
**Dest Pink – *Destinations*: Ongata Rongai, Kiserian, Bomas of Kenya, Nazarene University, Catholic University, Multimedia University, Nairobi National Park/Orphanage, Safari Walk, Langata Barracks, Galleria, Brookhouse International School, Langata Hospital, Langata Cemetery
Boarding Point: Railways Bus Station
Route Number 146
Destinations: Ruiru, Thika Road, Kahawa Wendani, Kahawa Barracks, Kahawa Sukari, Kenyatta University, Ruiru Bypass
Boarding Point: Mumbi Lane off Ronald Ngala Street or Odeon
Route Number 237
Destinations: Thika Town, all routes on Thika Road, Kahawa, Ruiru
Boarding Point: Munyu Road Junction, Ngara, Ronald Ngala Street, or Race Course Road near former OTC/Tusky’s Building