The public service vehicle operator was suspended on Thursday, December 12 following a tragic road accident in Salama along Nairobi-Mombasa highway which claimed seven lives. Two of the operators’ buses were involved in a head on collision/FILE – Modern Coast Express Ltd
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 17 – Modern Coast was set to resume operations Tuesday afternoon following clearance by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), six days after its license was suspended.
The public service vehicle operator was suspended on Thursday, December 12 following a tragic road accident in Salama along Nairobi-Mombasa highway which claimed seven lives.
“We are pleased to inform all our passengers that we have received permission from NTSA to resume normal scheduled bus services from 1.00 pm today the 17.12.2019,” the regional bus service operator said in a brief statement Tuesday morning.
Two of the operators’ buses were involved in a head on collision.
Modern Coast was ordered submit its fleet of 88 buses for recertification by NTSA with its crew members required to undertake refresher courses.
Two of the operators’ buses were involved in a head on collision in Salama along Nairobi-Mombasa highway/COURTESY
NTSA, in a statement on Thursday, had directed the National Police Service to impound any vehicles operated by Modern Coast found to be operating contrary to the suspension.
The agency said a thorough probe had been initiated into the operations of Modern Coast Express Ltd.
“Following the early Thursday morning crash involving two of their buses, the Authority has with immediate effect suspended the Company’s operator’s license and initiated a thorough investigation into its safety standards and operations,” the statement read.
NTSA Director-General George Njao said the agency had also initiated a thorough investigation into the safety standards and operations of Modern Coast even as he confirmed that the company’s access to the NTSA portal had been deactivated to limit any activities on their 88 vehicles until the probe is concluded.
The resumption of operations by Modern Coast came amid intense pressure from travelers booked for the festive season who demanded a reimbursement of their money.
The company said passengers whose scheduled travel was cancelled as a result of the NTSA suspension would be refunded through mobile money payment platforms.
