Details have emerged about a school bus that was bought using taxpayers money but was later converted into a public transport vehicle.
An investigation conducted by Nation revealed that the bus, registration number KCE 129L, was bought by the Embakasi South CDF in the 2014/15 financial year for St Stevens Secondary School in Embakasi.
The investigative journalists acting on a tip-off traced the bus to Nyangancha Market in Kisii County.
The bus bears the brand colours and marks of City Shuttle, which operates several routes in Nairobi.
St Stevens Secondary School Director Zablon Karani told the journalists that he was not aware of the latest developments.
“I am not aware that the bus has been rebranded. Some people are just making up pictures and sharing them. According to me, the bus is at the garage," he responded.
On arrival at the market, the team of reporters run into trouble with a group of young men when they tried to take photos of the bus.
The residents revealed that the bus had been at the said garage for more than three weeks.
“Gari ililetwa juzi na vijana wakaambiwa watoe hiyo rangi ya City Shuttle na ingine itapakwa. Hata ukiangalia gari hapo mbele imeshaanza kutolewa rangi (The bus was brought here the other day and some mechanics were told to remove the City Shuttle colours and repaint it. In fact, work has already started),” disclosed one of the residents.
The driver who refused to give his name told the scribes, "I have been operating the bus for the past four months under the City Shuttle fleet. We just brought it here (Kisii) for repairs but it will be back to Nairobi soon to continue operating as a PSV.
He claimed that the bus was bought from the school after it was involved in an accident and the CDF committee abandoned it at the garage. The owner of the school repaired and then sold it.
Information obtained from NTSA lists a local sacco and Zipporah Buyaki Nyakwara listed as the current owners, with St Stevens Secondary School indicated as the previous owner.
“We made a mistake in purchasing a bus for St Steven Secondary School, which we realised later, so we decided to re-allocate it (the bus) to Embakasi Girls. But, unfortunately, it was involved in an accident that killed people. The bus is at the garage and immediately it’s good we shall take it to Embakasi Girls,” stated the St Stevens Secondary School director, unaware that it had been turned into a public service vehicle.
