47 passengers travelling in an ENA coach emerged unscathed after the vehicle burst into flames mid-journey along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway on Tuesday evening.
The bus was smoothly cruising along until a loud bang came from behind the driver's seat. This startled the passengers, and they quickly started scrambling for safety.
Shortly after, smoke filled the air, making everyone panic even more. Some of the passengers decided to jump out of the moving bus to escape, which culminated in them sustaining injuries.
Following the incident, Shadrack Kiplagat, the bus driver, pulled up in Limuru. Witnesses and onlookers quickly arrived at the scene to assist in evacuating the passengers and put out the fire.
"I heard a loud explosion behind my seat and saw smoke. Some passengers panicked and began escaping through the windows," Kiplagat told the press.
"I was able to stop the vehicle and told the passengers to evacuate including through the windows."
Those who nursed injuries were rushed to hospital for medical treatment.
One of the passengers noted that they could not explain what caused the fire. She, however, urged Saccos to conduct routine maintenance of their vehicles before sanctioning any journey.
"I plead with the saccos that before a vehicle embarks on a journey, conduct a routine maintenance to ensure the safety of all passengers," Abigael Asega, a passenger who escaped from the episode, stated.
This is not the first time an Ena coach is bursting into flames mid journey. On August 30, 2023, another bus belonging to the company caught fire mid journey with 49 passengers on board.
The incident occurred after one of the wheels developed a puncture, forcing the driver to initiate a sudden halt.
Locals rushed to the scene and evacuated the passengers to safety.
