The origin of the word matatu is ascribed to different sources. One attribution is that it is derived from the Gikuyu word mang'otore matatu, meaning three ten cent coins. When matatus made their first appearance in the late 1960s, the standard fare for a trip was three coins worth thirty kenyan cents. shillings.[9] Matatu are sometimes known as 'ma3' as the swahili word for "three" is tatu, normally used in text messaging and more recently, as 'mats' in Sheng, Kenya's creolised swahili language. Matatus are mostly Isuzu minibuses; other popular models include the Nissan Caravan and Toyota Hiace. Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Share_taxi#Matatu_.28Kenya.29