Kitengela-Bound Bus Overturns in Shocking Morning Accident, Several Injured
Passengers traveling on a Kitengela-bound bus sustained injuries after a devastating accident on the morning of Sunday, March 23.
Bus Veers Off Road, Lands in a Ditch
The ill-fated Kitengela-bound bus, operated by Rembo Shuttle Sacco, reportedly lost control before careening off the road and plunging into a ditch. Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as passengers struggled to escape through the windows after the bus door jammed due to the impact.
Images and videos from the crash site reveal significant damage to the vehicle, with the front section and windscreen completely shattered. Smoke was seen rising from the wreckage, further adding to the distress of those trapped inside.
Possible Cause of the Accident
The exact cause of the crash remains unknown, but preliminary reports suggest the bus may have been overlapping. Authorities are yet to confirm these claims as investigations continue.
Crackdown on Public Transport Operators
This accident comes amid heightened scrutiny of public service vehicles (PSVs) following a recent crackdown on road safety violations. One of the major casualties of the enforcement drive has been Super Metro SACCO, which faced the revocation of its operating license by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on Thursday.
NTSA cited multiple violations within the Super Metro fleet, revealing that 15 out of 523 vehicles had expired inspection certificates, while eight lacked valid Road Service Licenses (RSL). In response, the SACCO launched an urgent compliance exercise, inspecting 294 of its vehicles over the weekend.
As a precaution, rival operator Metro Trans also briefly suspended operations on Saturday to conduct safety training for its drivers, conductors, and staff.
Recurring Accidents on Major Highways
Sunday’s crash marks the second major accident involving a PSV overturning on a busy highway in recent months. In December, passengers were injured when a PSV lost control and overturned near Maanzoni along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway. According to witnesses, the driver swerved to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle, leading to the accident.
Authorities Urged to Enhance Road Safety
With increasing cases of PSV accidents, passengers and road users are calling for stricter enforcement of road safety regulations to prevent further tragedies. NTSA and traffic police are expected to intensify their monitoring of public transport operators to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
