This archive report was first published on 13 December 2019.
December 13, 2019
With over 3,200 people already killed on Kenya's roads this year, the National Transport and Safety Authority's (NTSA) swift action to suspend the operating license of Modern Coast Limited, following a fatal bus crash on the Mombasa highway, is a welcome move.
The agency's decision to audit the safety of the company's nearly 90 buses is a crucial step in preventing future accidents.
Transporters have a primary obligation to ensure the safety of their passengers, and the NTSA's move sends a strong message that safety will not be compromised for financial gain.
It's instructive that the NTSA has confirmed that the decision was not a knee-jerk reaction after the accident, but rather a result of monitoring the company's performance in recent days.
The agency must speed up the probe into the crash, as the public will be eagerly waiting for the findings.
It's in the company's interest to cooperate to enable a speedy conclusion of the inquiry, not only to protect its investment but also to safeguard the livelihoods of its hundreds of employees.
Safety is paramount in public transport, and the NTSA and traffic police must move quickly to curb accidents by strictly enforcing traffic rules and regulations.
