Moi University school bus with 65 students on board has been involved in an accident along the Nairobi- Nakuru highway.
The bus is reported to have been ferrying Kiswahili students to Mombasa for an academic trip when the incident occurred at Kimende area on Wednesday, March 27.
According to images seen online, the bus had partly fallen on its side and some of the students who were inside were jumping off through the front passenger side door.
First responders were not yet at the scene, but bystanders and well-wishers rushed to the scene to help some of the people inside the bus to get off.
No casualties had been reported by the time of publication of this article and the school management had not issued a statement on the accident.
However, witnesses at the scene indicated that some of the students sustained injuries.
The accident occurred a few weeks after another belonging to Kenyatta University crashed in Voi, Taita Taveta County heading to the same destination.
Also Read: Murkomen Directs Return of NTSA on Kenyan Roads
Moi University on Casualties
Following the incident, Moi University Vice-Chancellor Isaac Kosgey announced that the institution had suspended all academic trips.
Additionally, he indicated that there were no fatalities as a result of the incident, adding that the injured students, who were about 12, were rushed to hospital for treatment.
“This morning at around 9.50 a.m., our University Bus KCK 583U with 65 students on board, was involved in a non-fatal traffic accident at Kimende area on the Nakuru – Nairobi Highway while on an Academic Trip with students from the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Kiswahili.
“I am relieved to inform you that there were no casualties or fatalities, and all students are safe. A bus has been dispatched to bring them back to Main Campus,” stated Kosgey.
The Kenyatta University Accident
Eleven students from Kenyatta University died on the spot after the bus accident on Monday, March 18,
The medical students were heading to the coastal city of Mombasa for an academic trip when the unfortunate incident happened.
Recounting the incident, a survivor revealed that the driver attempted to overtake another vehicle when it collided with a trailer.
“We were on a trip with our school. So, just after Mtito Andei, our driver was trying to overtake. The trailer came right at us and crashed into our bus from behind. Those who were seated in the rear were the ones who were severely hurt in the accident.
“Those of us who didn’t have seatbelts on were thrown outside. I fell but only sustained injuries on my arm, my friend over here sustained neck injuries,” said the student.
At the same time, on March 16, a student and a teacher were confirmed dead after a Kapsabet High School bus they were travelling in rolled several times along the Marigat-Kabarnet Road in Baringo County.
Kapsabet High School’s principal also confirmed the accident, stating that the bus was carrying students who were headed for an academic trip to Baringo County.
Also Read: Accident Alert: School Bus Rolls Several Times
Murkomen Fresh Orders to Curb Such Incidents
In response to the increase in cases on accidents in the country, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced four new measures to curb the increasing cases of accidents across the country.
In a statement on March 18, the CS indicated that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) will collaborate with the National Police Service to enforce traffic rules.
“We are going to establish a mechanism where the previous directive to remove NTSA from enforcement will be vacated, and a collaborative regime between NTSA and NPS will be put in place for a more efficient enforcement.
“You will be seeing a return of the NTSA working with traffic police to enforce traffic safety on our roads as soon as possible,” he said.
Also, he stated that the re-testing of all PSV and Heavy Commercial drivers which had been postponed after an outcry from the sector will be implemented.
Additionally, he announced that NTSA will put in place measures for the implementation of medical testing of all drivers.
Lastly, he highlighted that the National Police Service and NTSA will intensify the ongoing nationwide enforcement and impound all unroadworthy vehicles.
