Bus company reprimanded for causing numerous accidents
Director General of National Safety Transport Authority (NTSA) Francis Meja during a crackdown on PSV vehicles along Waiyaki Way near Nairobi's Kabete Police Station on December 31, 2015. NTSA has put on notice Neo Kenya Mpya Bus Company over involvement in numerous accidents. PHOTO | ROBERT NGUGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The National Transport and Safety Authority has put on notice Neo Kenya Mpya Bus Company over involvement in numerous accidents.
- On December 13 last year, two people were killed while five others sustained serious injuries when a Kenya Mpya bus rammed into a stationary matatu near Brookside Dairy along Nairobi Thika Highway.
- Ten days later, on December 23, two buses belonging to the company crashed near Kenyatta University, Nairobi, injuring scores of passengers.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has put on notice Neo Kenya Mpya Bus Company over involvement in numerous accidents.
The transport company which operates a fleet of buses between Thika and Nairobi was given a month to either streamline its operations or face action by the road safety authority.
This comes after a series of recent accidents involving the company buses, where two people died three weeks ago.
NTSA’s Deputy Director and Head of Corporate Communications Dominic Kabiru, on Thursday said the firm’s officials were summoned and ordered to upgrade their fleet management system.
On December 13 last year, two people were killed while five others sustained serious injuries when a Kenya Mpya bus rammed into a stationary matatu near Brookside Dairy along Nairobi Thika Highway.
Ten days later, on December 23, two buses belonging to the company crashed near Kenyatta University, Nairobi, injuring scores of passengers.
“We are aware of the various accidents involving Neo Kenya Mpya vehicles and NTSA has instructed the management to ensure all vehicles are fitted with functional speed limiters, among other safety measures,” he said.
The Sacco officials were also directed to invest on effective management.
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
“We have advised them to hire qualified personnel to run the fleet and set up a date when the officials, drivers and conductors of the Sacco will be trained by NTSA,” Mr. Kabiru said.
He said the Sacco was given up to January 24 to implement the above mentioned issues, “failure to which stern action will be taken against them.”
Meanwhile, a driver with the bus company has been charged with causing the deaths of two passengers and injuring five others through dangerous driving.
Humphrey Ndung’u, who appeared before Thika Chief Magistrate’s Court, however, denied causing the death of Beth Nduta Kuria, 82 and Sophia Wanja, 33, when the bus registration number KBU 755 S, which he was driving, rammed into a matatu run by Thika Road Sacco near Brookside Dairy on December 13, last year.
The court was told that Ndung’u fled after the accident only to be arrested ten days later and remanded after failing to raise a bond of Sh30,000 with a surety of similar amount.
The case will be heard on March 10.
