Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary(CS) in charge of Road and Transport, Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday suspended the operating licence of transport company, Modern Coast, over safety concerns.
The CS has directed NTSA to suspend all operations of the bus company with immediate effect as investigations into the Wednesday accident in Kisii continue.
Murkomen has further directed that all passengers who had booked with the company be facilitated to allow for safe and seamless travel to their destinations.
The suspension comes after a bus belonging to the company was involved in a road accident on Wednesday.
The bus was heading to Homa Bay from Mombasa when the incident occurred, leaving one person who was walking along the road dead, and several passengers who were on board nursing injuries.
The accident occurred at River Masosa at Makutano Junction in Kisii.
Murkomen in a statement said the suspension was arrived at after a report from the NTSA on the same.
“This raises concerns about the state of operations and safety levels at the bus company coming just months after the River Nithi accident that occurred on July 24, leaving 36 people dead and many others injured,” the CS said.
The CS noted that the July accident led to the suspension of the license of the bus company for three months.
“The operations were allowed to resume in November this year after the company complied with all the conditions that had been set for them,” he said.
On December 20, Murkomen held a joint press conference with the Interior CS where various measures that motorists, PSV owners and passengers must take to reduce road carnage during the festive season and beyond were outlined.
Among these measures included the need to ensure vehicles are well-serviced and drivers well-rested before taking to the road as well as proper display and positioning of signage like triangles, chevrons, and retro-reflective.
Others included towing stalled vehicles within one hour, observing speed limits and passenger capacity, adherence to designated routes and paying attention to traffic signs and traffic lights.
According to Murkomen, motorists have also been advised to avoid reckless overtaking, overlapping, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
“Now that the festive season is almost over and passengers are travelling back to their places of work, we will double down on our efforts to ensure all motorists adhere to these measures,” he said.
