Passengers travelling from Mombasa to Kisumu were stranded for hours after a Modern Coast bus got stuck at 4 am in Samburu on Saturday, December 17.
According to the passengers, the management was slow in clarifying the issue and updating the passengers and their families.
"Someone to help me or advice or give way forward. Modern Coast has been stuck at Samburu since 4 am till now with no proper communication from the offices.
"I have kids traveling in that bus from Mombasa," a parent lamented.
The bus initially broke down in Changamwe, hours before leaving for Samburu. In a video shared by Sikika Road Safety, passengers were seen seated along the road waiting for help.
"National Transport and Safety Authority-Kenya (NTSA), National Police Service (NPS), and Transport Cabinet Secretary Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen kindly intervene as it's very clear that the vehicle has a mechanical problem.
"Passengers are stranded at Changamwe since yesterday at 11 pm," Sikika urged.
A parent also lamented over the poor and slow response from the bus' authorities, lamenting that her two daughters were stranded all alone. She noted that the bus was late for departure.
"It was supposed to leave Mombasa on Friday, December 16, at 4 pm destined for Kisumu-Busia but after an hour, the passengers were informed that it would arrive late. They departed Mombasa at 11.30 pm," she narrated.
Her efforts to get a refund were futile as the authorities reportedly reimbursed passengers travelling to Nairobi only.
After an hour, the bus reportedly stopped at a garage due to mechanical issues before proceeding with the journey. She added that at around 3 am, her daughters notified her that passengers had raised an alarm over smoke emerging from the engine box.
"Modern Coast is not picking up our calls. They are stuck at Samburu and they do not even know the exact location," she added.
"How do I even comfort them over there in Samburu whilst am here in Mombasa?" questioned the distraught mother.
She called upon the transport CS to intervene so her two daughters can get home safely.
"Honestly some of us make some choices due to the scarcity of cash," the mother disclosed noting she held nothing against the bus. Modern Coast was yet to respond to the reports by the time of publication.
