By Peter Ochieng
Chavakali Boys High School management is on the spot for ‘releasing students for the April holidays at night,’ after an Easy Coach bus they had boarded was involved in a road accident.
The accident claimed the life of one student as over 30 others were injured, after the bus hit the rail guard and fell down near the Mamboleo junction, in Kisumu on Monday night.
The learners had reportedly hired the bus to ferry them to Nairobi, before the incident.
In his reaction, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi wondered why the school administration allowed the students to travel at night, with statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) indicating that most incidents of road carnage occur at night, during weekends and holidays.
“The school’s administration has said the injured are at Russia (Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital) in Kisumu county, and that the ill fated Easy Coach bus was ferrying 33 students to Nairobi after the school closed,” the first term Senator said in a statement seen by Nairobi Review.
“The school has however not explained why they released students to travel at night and not during the day. The move to release the students to travel out of the school during such hours is flouting government regulations that prohibit students from travelling during odd hours.”
“The odd hours begin from 6pm and run through the night to 6am. I urge all schools to keep to these guidelines as they are intended to ensure safety of the students,” he added.
Chavakali Boys is in Vihiga constituency. Area MP Clement Siloya in a separate statement said accidents involving buses of learning institutions is becoming a matter of concern, after Kapsabet Boys High School, Kenyatta university and Moi university buses were involved in accidents in a period of a month.
“The frequency of accidents on our roads, particularly those affecting schools, is a matter of grave concern. In my view, this incidents often stem from a combination of factors such as subpar road infrastructure, insufficient maintenance, inadequate signage, and human negligence like speeding or reckless driving,” said MP Siloya.
To mitigate such tragedies, the first term legislature said it is imperative for educational institutions and transportation entities to prioritize stringent safety protocols, including regular vehicle upkeep, comprehensive driver training, and strict adherence to traffic regulations.