The bus from Nairobi airport - how dangerous could it possibly be?

It is said that the public bus #34 from/to Nairobi airport should be avoided because of muggings. How does this work? They try to rob you while there are other passengers in the bus? Anyone with stories from this bus?

I have been on the Bus 34 to and from Nairobi airport many times and every thing went ok.
why pay Ksh1600 for a taxi when bus 34 cost only Ksh50.
many people use bus 34 from the Airport to down Nairobi.
it is the same as any of the city buses in Nairobi.
just be carefull of your bags.

For the record, I meant "...how dangerous could it possibly be for someone (like me) who looks like a tourist". Don't know if that applies to you, but good no matter what that you (I assume) haven't seen any incident.

if you think like that you will have to take a Taxi every where you go in Kenya.
and that is going to cost you a lot in Taxi fares.
it is not Dangerous to use the Nairobi city bus 34 or any of the City buses.
many of the people who use bus 34 look like tourists as it is a low cost way to get to and from the airport.
soon there will be a train from the NBO airport to down town Nairobi.
the YMCA dorm cost Ksh1000. or the New Kenya Lodge dorm cost KSH800.

I think about the fact that criminals, logically, target people who look like tourists. The fact that I think about this, is not neccessarely something that disqualify me from taking this bus. But the fact that you market dorm prices in this thread, tells me that you might not look like a tourist yourself.

if you think like that you could be any where in Kenya and you could be a target.
if you like to pay overpriced taxis to go every where good luck for you.
but many backpackers and travellers like to travel the low cost way.
I said the dorm prices as that is the most low cost places to stay in Nairobi.
you can still find a single room in a lodge in and around River road for under Ksh1600 a night.

I hate taxis. I always use public transportation. Even in (for example) Bogota, Colombia and South Central, Los Angeles in the middle of the night. But I've never been in a city that gets LP/Wikitravel to write this much about security. So that's why I'm asking about how local bus robberies work. They can point a knife at you even if there are other passengers in the bus?

If you have used the bus in Bogota ,you can do so in Nairobi too.

As on any crowded buses in large cities. ..keep an eye on your luggage,and carry your money,cards etc. in a moneybelt under your clothes.

.... I'm asking about how local bus robberies work. They can point a knife at you even if there are other passengers in the bus?

I imagine rather that a robber would be looking for an unattended bag to grab and run off with.
I doubt you being an obvious tourist makes any difference, it's whether or not you are paying attention.

Sounds good. Thanks.

I fly between two cities in Kenya every week and if I feel like saving some money, I occasionally take the bus from the airport to the city center. I also take public transport (buses and matatus) a lot around Nairobi and have never had a problem. I think Nairobi has improved a lot over the past decade in terms of muggings and robberies. However, that being said, there are still incidents that regularly happen, so just be a smart traveler. Don't take out your phone or any valuables while on public transport, don't let your bags out of your sight, always keep your guard up and make sure there aren't sneaky hands reaching in your bags or through the windows when you're stopped. The only thing that stops me from taking the bus all the time, is that it takes a really long time. A taxi usually takes me about 45 minutes, while the 34 bus will take about twice that long. Also, I would be a bit more cautious about taking public transportation at night. At night I would stick to trusted taxis.

I totally disagree with those rumors of one being mugged at the buses all i can urge you is to be careful with your bags as many of my friends have said to you.

What initially made me concerned was these word in the 2015 Lonely Planet Kenya book:

"A far cheaper way to get into town is by city bus 34 (Ksh 40), but a lot of travellers get robbed on the bus or when they get off."

Here is an extract from a previous posting of mine:
... I can shed some light on the 34 bus transport. I travelled on it a few months back, and while it is cheap, I have to question whether it is value for money. I have to start by specifying I used the minibus version - whose route is different from other No 34 buses - that end up at Kenyatta National Hospital off Ngong Road.
Boy-oh-boy, what a long and drawn out journey! Usually I would grab a cab, and one hour later (and say $25 lighter) I would be in the Central Business District. However this time, as soon as I came outside, I saw the bus right across the road from Arrivals - just about to set off, so with only the thought of saving $24.50, I raced across and jumped in. Now, I've since concluded this bus is not intended to primarily transport people from the airport to the city centre. It is intended to ferry people between all the local housing estates along a given route, and more by mere coincidence, its final destination is at The Hilton at the City Centre. We set off in great earnest, and my first surprise was when the vehicle turned off at The City Cabanas and joined The Ring Road (which in my view must be the busiest road in East & Central Africa). After a gazillion stops and 2 hours later we emerged at the roundabout of Jogoo Road, giving me the hope this journey would be over in another 30 - 45 minutes. That hope was dashed when we turned into Industrial Area...
Another hour later, we finally emerged on Landhies Road, battered and bruised, but still perky - which must be the second busiest road in East & Central Africa...
Now that you get the drift, let us fast forward to the conclusion: When I am visiting Kenya for a week, I am not sure sitting in a 34 bus for most of a whole day's morning to save $24.50 is something I'd do again; I consider my week far too valuable for that.

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