Several Feared Dead in Climax Bus Crash Along Kisumu-Nairobi Highway

Several passengers are feared dead and many others injured following a tragic road accident involving a Climax Coach bus early Sunday morning along the Kisumu-Nairobi Highway at Awasi.

The Nairobi-bound bus, which had departed from Busia, veered off the road and plunged into a ditch. Emergency response teams, alongside local residents, rushed to the scene to assist in rescuing the trapped passengers. The cause of the crash is yet to be established as police launch investigations.

The Motorists Association has condemned Climax Coach management, accusing them of ignoring long-standing safety concerns. “Complaints about Climax buses and repeated crashes have gone unheard by drivers and managers,” said the association in a statement. They further criticized the company for failing to assign two drivers for long-distance routes, a measure mandated by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to prevent driver fatigue.

According to NTSA regulations under the Traffic Act (Cap. 403), long-distance PSVs must not operate for over eight hours without switching drivers. However, reports indicate Climax drivers often return to the road while still fatigued, heightening crash risks.

This incident comes just a week after another Climax bus overturned in Kimende, Kiambu County, injuring at least 20 people. Witnesses blamed the accident on overspeeding, despite passengers raising concerns.

Only two weeks ago, a Climax bus collided head-on with a truck along the Nakuru–Eldoret highway, while another crash occurred at Awasi in February, involving a bus on the same Busia-Nairobi route.

As rescue efforts continue at the current crash site, authorities and road safety advocates are calling for urgent reforms and stricter enforcement of transport safety regulations.