Accident bus that killed 58 has now transformed into lorry
A bus that killed 58 passengers in October 2018, in Fort Ternan, Kericho County has been converted into a lorry.
The lorry, a grey Isuzu FVR, which bears the same number plates KBX 092J as the ill-fated 67-seater bus was spotted on Monday being flagged off by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya during the launch of the construction of a Sh90 million water project in Shinyalu sub-county.
According to documents from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the vehicle was transformed into to a three-seater lorry after the necessary fees were paid.
Kenyans had raised concerns, claiming that was a case of double registration even as other photos were shared on social media of a vehicle bearing the same registration numbers.
The law requires a licencing officer to verify all the particulars of a vehicle or send it for inspection, before registration number plates are issued.
Written off
Section 6(5) of the Traffic Act requires the licensing officer, on being satisfied as to the accuracy of the particulars contained in a form of application for the registration of a vehicle, assign a registration number.
However, when a vehicle ceases to be used on the road, the owner is expected to return the registration certificate to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles for cancellation.
Equally, when a vehicle is written off by an insurer, the registration plates are forthwith cancelled.
The accident, involving the bus belonging to Western Cross Express Co. Ltd, happened on October 10, 2018 at around 5.45am along the Londiani-Muhoroni highway.
The accident stirred public anger after it emerged that the bus had excess passengers and passed through several police roadblocks.
Following the accident, the owner, Cleophas Shimanyula and fleet manager Benard Shitiabayi were charged in court for operating an unroadworthy vehicle and flouting guidelines governing PSV operations.
