The Nairobian team hits the road dishing out free copies

The Standard Group Managing Director, Print, Francis Munyoki, gives out free copies of The Nairobian newspaper in Kayole route matatu, Friday. [Photo:Felix Kavii/Standard]

The Nairobian team Friday had a pleasant surprise for city residents, dishing out free copies to its readers.

The team, led by The Nairobian Managing Editor, Charles Otieno, and joined by The Standard Group Managing Director, Print, Francis Munywoki, hit the road armed with the newspapers which they gave to travellers in Nairobi’s Eastlands.

The journey began at The Standard Group offices on Mombasa Road at 7am and ended at Kayole estate.

Along the way, The Nairobian team was joined by members from the Matatu Welfare Association. At Imara Daima Kobil Filling Station, Munywoki surprised unsuspecting passengers with a free copy of the paper and paid for their bus fare. Those who had already paid got refunds while the drivers and the touts got free T-shirts. From Pipeline bus stop, the team headed to Donholm via a matatu, dishing out free copies to the enthusiastic passengers.

During the matatu ride, the team enlightened the passengers about The Nairobian, The Standard Group and road safety. “I buy The Nairobian because it has headlines poa poa,” said one lady. There was drama at Kayole, DO’s office when residents excitedly scrambled for the papers. At some point, the papers ran out and the team had to buy from the vendors.

“Most people had already bought their copies,” said Otieno, “some demanded we pay them back.”

He said The Nairobian, which has been in circulation for just over one year, is the fastest growing city newspaper, “this side of the Sahara. That is why we are rewarding our loyal readers.”

 Munywoki said the event, apart from rewarding The Nairobian readers, was also geared towards promoting road safety in an effort to reduce the many road accidents.

MWA Chairman Dickson Mbugua and other officials urged Kenyans to respect public transport crew, touts and drivers, instead of demonising them. As midday approached, the team had distributed hundreds of copies of the boldest newspaper in town.