Partially raised in the countryside and Kenya’s capital, James Owiti, known as Drummer James, had a deep desire to become a sensational heavy-duty engine driver.
Life in the village allowed James to admire the large buses ferrying people from the city and fostered his ambition to be in charge of the wheels one day.
“My desire to drive PSV vehicles started back home, where, as a child, I would go to our local shopping center and watch those big buses from Nairobi drop off passengers heading to Busia,” Owiti recounts, adding that he made a solemn promise to one day operate those buses.
After high school, he immediately enrolled in a driving course, completing B1 and C1, which cover small trucks and saloon cars. He later advanced to D1 for a 14-seater matatu before enrolling in D2 and D3 for 33-seater minibuses and 52 to 66-seater buses, respectively.
Currently, James is a PSV driver at Nairobi’s most reputable fleet firm, Super Metro, and he aspires to join giant companies like Ena Coach and Buscar, hoping to drive 52 to 66-seater buses that operate both locally and across East Africa.
“I’m looking forward to bigger challenges in this amazing industry. I want to transport long-distance travelers countrywide and across East African countries with companies like Buscar. That’s where my goal in PSV lies,” he said, expressing his ambition to drive the large Scania buses operated by companies like Tahmeed, Ena Coach, and Buscar.
In an exclusive interview, James shared insights on what it takes to be a young PSV driver in one of Africa’s busiest cities.
“Being a PSV driver, especially in the Nairobi area, is not for the faint-hearted, particularly when driving a 33-seater bus. It can be quite challenging, especially as a young man,” Owiti explains.
The youthful driver, one of the most respected fleet drivers in Nairobi, notes that society has high expectations for the younger generation, presenting a challenge to set standards that uplift the community.
“I cherish the job I’m doing; it’s my office, and like any other office, I go in properly groomed. As a young man, I believe we have been given opportunities by God to set standards aligned with our national values,” James stated.
Often, PSV drivers in Nairobi have been stereotyped as rough and unrefined, which James attributes to the pressure of meeting strict timelines and targets.
“Yes, there are a few rogue PSV drivers in the city, but the majority are simply in a rush to meet their targets. I hope the government will address the issue of high traffic congestion, especially during rush hours,” he said.
Owiti lives in two worlds; when he’s not driving, he is in charge of the drums at Chrisco Donholm, where he worships.
He acknowledges that balancing the roles of a driver and a church instrumentalist is challenging but emphasizes that nothing can stop him from serving the Lord.
“It’s not easy to balance both, but because I dearly love these activities, I manage my time between work and serving the Lord,” Owiti explains.
On a few occasions, he has missed band practice due to fatigue.
“Driving requires a lot of concentration, and we work long hours, so by the time I leave work, I am fatigued and unable to handle practice,” he admits.
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