School vehicle accidents: Compilation of recent incidents

The Monday evening accident involving a Kenyatta University bus joins a growing list of accidents involving vehicles for learning institutions.

In the last two months, at least four accidents involving school buses have been reported.

Kenyatta University

On Monday at least 11 students were confirmed dead while 42 others were seriously injured after a Kenyatta University bus ferrying students to Mombasa was involved in a grisly road accident.

Confirming the incident, Voi subcounty police commander Ibrahim Daffala said 10 students died on the spot while another one breathed his last in the hospital.

The bus was carrying Public Health students on an academic tour when a trailer reportedly rammed into the bus on its left side.

The accident happened at Pipeline near Maungu in Taita Taveta.

The school bus had 58 passengers on board; two drivers, a lab technician, a student leader, and 54 students.

In a statement dated March 19, the University Chancellor Paul Wainanina said some of the critically injured students were evacuated to Nairobi after an assessment of their health status. 

The university is expected to release a comprehensive report.

Kapsabet Boys High School 

The KU bus accident comes just two days after a school bus belonging to Kapsabet Boys High School was involved in an accident at Patkawanin along Karbaret-Marigat Road in Baringo.

The bus, which was ferrying 61 students and a teacher, was headed to Marigat, and upon reaching the location of the accident, the driver lost control and veered off the road.

Police said the vehicle rolled several times and landed at the bottom of a steep slope.

Confirming the incident, Baringo county commissioner Stephen Kutwa said that two people, a student and a teacher, died on the spot.

"One teacher and one student were fatally injured, five students were seriously injured while 19 others were slightly injured," a police report read in part.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday pledged to buy a new bus for the school.

Speaking while visiting the school, the DP said he would talk to his boss,  President William Ruto to gift the school another one since their bus had been left in bad condition.

"I will talk to him (Ruto) later in the day and I am sure that the President will give you another bus to replace that one so that you can continue with your tours," Gachagua said.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua urged drivers of school buses to be careful while ferrying students.

Maadili Schools

On February 24, three students were confirmed dead after a school bus from Thika town's Maadili School Kindergarten overturned near Gitugi-Murang'a Town.

According to Murang'a county police commander Kainga Mathiu, the bus had 35 pupils, two drivers and three teachers at the time of the accident.

Kainga confirmed that one pupil died at the scene while two others perished as they were undergoing treatment at Murang'a Level 5 Hospital.

At the time of the tragedy, the bus was transporting the students from a scouting event in Nyeri.

Police said that the accident scene, a short distance from Murang'a town, is known for its sharp corner, which has caused multiple car accidents in recent months.

Itoleka Girls Secondary School

On March 15, a bus carrying 38 students and 10 teachers was involved in an accident at Nithi Bridge in Tharaka Nithi.

After taking part in the Eastern Region Drama Festivals at Meru School in Meru, the Kitui county teachers and students narrowly escaped death as they were travelling aboard the Itoleka Girls School bus.

The driver of the bus said that as the bus was descending off the Nithi Bridge slope, the brake system failed, causing him to veer and crash the vehicle against the sloping meanders before reaching the bridge, which is a black spot.

None of the students and teachers on the bus were injured.