Former South African President Nelson Mandela once remarked that it always seems impossible until it's done.
The adage seems true for these Kenyans, as they resorted to steer away from the norm and change the narrative by modifying their locomotives into different models. Kenyans.co.ke takes a look at these modifications:
Limo into hearse
Arguably the first of its kind, Delight Funeral Directors decided to take it a notch higher by offering a custom-made limousine hearse service.
The limo, maroon in colour, consists of gull-wing doors that can hold an adult-size hearse, two transparent windscreens covered with curtains on its side and three doors on the rear end that can accommodate three people.
One of the directors at the company previously affirmed to Kenyans.co.ke that they charge Ksh500,000 per day for the use of the luxurious car.
He also noted that the car is valued at Ksh20 million.
"Change from the normal. We are focused on improving daily and our slogan is quality runs deep. That is what is guiding us. We want to improve every day in all aspects," he stated.
Boeing Plane into a nightclub
In April 2020, a video of the fuselage of a Boeing plane being transported through the highways in Nairobi sparked debate among Kenyans. Months later, reports showed that the plane, valued at Ksh8 million, was in the process of being renovated into a 5-star nightclub known as Club 034.
Flash Mwatha, the engineer tasked with the project, noted that the idea was to make all guests have a luxurious experience.
Among the modifications made in the plane involved, removing of all seats as well as the engine from the cockpit, dividing the plane into first-class and economy class, whereby the first class would be decorated with a 3D model in order to create an aura of a real flight.
Upon entry, guests would be welcomed with flashy airport lights as well as a red carpet entrance.
Boats turned into floating restaurants
A new trend of converting boats into floating restaurants has captivated locals and tourists at the Coast. The boats are remodelled to mirror a restaurant that involves a bar and lounges, kitchens, dining and resting areas.
To set the mood for the guests, different bands perform at different times while the boat stays afloat in the Indian ocean.
One of the managers of the boats told the press that they offer three types of services: lunch, sundowners and dinner services.
"Lunch is two hours and dinner cruisers operate up to four hours. Lunch cruise begins from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner cruise begins at 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
"Once you get on the boat we serve you with a starter, the soup. Then we serve you with the main course order then the dessert," the manager stated.
Matatu converted into a posh limousine
Morris Mbetsa, a young techpreneur, became the talk of town in January 2021, after he converted a matatu into a luxurious limousine.
The transformation involved removing all seats, adding an elaborate music system, LED-coloured floors, voice sensors, star-light roof and customised wheels in order to give it an exquisite look.
Guests would be served with cold drinks while on transit from a fridge fitted on its side. Mbetsa noted that the whole process took about one month and cost around Ksh1.25 million.
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Train carriages converted into a studio
A group of artistes in Nairobi devised a unique way of displaying their craft by converting a train carriage into a studio.
The artistes, known as Bombsquad or BSQ, then utilized the opportunity by spraying graffiti on the carriage in order to promote the Kenyan culture.
The group gained access after the Nairobi railway museum's management agreed to rent the carriage. They divided the carriage into various sections for artwork exhibition as well as a work area for the 15 members of the group.
One BSQ member revealed that they mainly focus on various types of art such as mural paintings, graffiti, and canvas art.
"Our style is more African and more original. We have developed a way to express ourselves as young Africans," the member stated.
