On Tuesday, July 4, an ENA Coach bus traveling from Nairobi to Usenge overturned along the Nakuru-Kericho Highway, resulting in several passenger injuries.
An official from ENA Bus Company confirmed that the injured individuals were promptly taken to Londiani Hospital for medical treatment. The accident occurred as the bus was en route to Kericho from Nairobi. Among the passengers were students returning to school after the midterm break.
Upon receiving the news, police officers and local residents rushed to the scene to assist emergency officials in rescuing passengers from the overturned bus. However, the cause of the accident was not immediately determined at the time of reporting.
The Kenya Red Cross reported that the accident occurred at Mau Summit Junction along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway. 14 casualties were evacuated to Londiani Hospital, added Kenya Red Cross.
It is worth noting that this ENA bus accident occurred a few kilometers away from the tragic Londiani accident scene, where a trailer crashed into parked matatus, claiming the lives of 52 individuals. The driver of the trailer stated that the braking system had failed, leading to the crash on June 30, 2023.
On Monday, July 3, 19 passengers were injured when the bus they were traveling in overturned in Siwot, Kericho County. No lives were lost.
Transport CS Murkomen on Tuesday, July 4, released several regulations his ministry proposed to curb road accidents in the country.
Murkomen noted that all Public Service Vehicles, school buses, and vans must be fitted with dashboard cameras and vehicle telematics.
The Transport CS was speaking during interdenominational prayers in Londiani town, Kericho County. Murkomen also revealed that a bill requiring all matatus to be equipped with dashcams would be tabled in Parliament. The dashcams will be sending real-time data to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
The telematics system would include a GPS system to track vehicle locations, and a black box to record vehicle speeds. It would also have information on vehicle maintenance, servicing, and history.
Additionally, the government pledged to expedite the re-testing of public service drivers and to relocate roadside traders away from highways, while establishing new markets with designated drive-ins.