Modern Coast Announces Trips On These Routes Despite Losing License

Modern Coast Bus Express company has announced that some of its buses will continue plying the major routes despite Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen's order to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to suspend its operation license.

In a notice on Saturday, December 31, the bus company announced that the routes from Nairobi to Kampala in Uganda, Nairobi to Kigali in Rwanda and Nairobi to Bujumbura in Burundi and vice versa will continue as per usual.

However, it discontinued the following routes: Nairobi to Malindi, Nairobi to upcountry, Mombasa to upcountry, and vice versa.

Fleet of Modern Coast buses. /NTV KENYA

"Customers who had booked advance tickets on the affected routes shall be booked to travel with another bus company to their respective destinations, on the same date and at the same time.

"All our offices countrywide shall remain open for parcel services and for cross-border bookings. We greatly regret the impact of this unexpected action on your day's plans and we urge you to kindly stay close to all our communication channels for subsequent updates," Modern Coast stated.

In a statement on Friday, December 30, Murkomen revealed that he received NTSA's report on the road accident involving one of its buses which plunged into the Nyakomisaro River in Kisii County.

He clarified that NTSA had renewed the license of the bus company after it was previously suspended for three months following a similar accident at River Nithi along the Meru-Nairobi highway on Sunday, July 24.

"The July accident led to the suspension of the license of the bus company for three months. The operations were allowed to resume in November this year after the company complied with all the conditions that had been set for them.

"Following the 28th December accident, I have directed NTSA to suspend all operations of the Modern Coast bus company with immediate effect, as investigations into the accident continue. The bus company must also ensure that all passengers who had booked with them are facilitated to allow for safe and seamless travel to their destinations," he directed.

Among the requirements for the resumption of Modern Coast bus operations included the need to ensure vehicles are well-serviced and drivers well-rested before taking to the road.

Also included were proper display and positioning of signage like triangles, chevrons, and retro-reflective, towing of stalled vehicles within one hour, observing speed limits and passenger capacity, adherence to designated routes, and paying attention to traffic signs and traffic lights. 

"Motorists must also avoid reckless overtaking, overlapping, and driving under the influence of alcohol. Now that the festive season is almost over and passengers are travelling back to their places of work, we will double down on our efforts to ensure all motorists adhere to these measures.

"As a Ministry, we take the matter of road safety seriously and will not hesitate to take stern action against anyone flouting traffic rules in our efforts to preserve and protect the lives of Kenyans," he added.

Scene after a Modern Coast bus plunged into Nyakomisaro River In Kisii County on December 28, 2022. /TWITTER.MA3ROUTE