Buscar Bus Company is facing public backlash following a distressing incident on November 30, in which passengers, including children as young as one year old, were forced to endure a difficult and uncomfortable 9:45 PM journey from Malindi to Nairobi. The problem arose when one of the company’s vehicles, registration number KCW 208A, experienced a leaking roof, resulting in a waterlogged interior throughout the 500-kilometer trip.
In a video that has since gone viral on social media, the bus driver can be seen continuing the journey despite the uncomfortable conditions, showing little concern for the inconvenience faced by passengers. This has prompted outrage among travellers, with many questioning the company’s commitment to passenger welfare.
As of nearly two weeks later, Buscar has yet to address the complaints raised by those affected. Attempts by The Weekly Vision to reach out to the company for a statement on the incident, as well as to clarify whether they were aware of the circumstances, have proven unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
Buscar, known for its luxury buses equipped with onboard entertainment and other amenities, has long been a key player in the commuter transport sector, particularly for long-distance travel to and from the Coast region and neighbouring countries. However, this incident has cast a shadow over the company’s reputation and raised concerns about its ability to maintain high service standards.
Questions are now being asked about whether this issue reflects a decline in service quality, potentially linked to the company’s merger with Coast Bus Service. The merger was necessitated after the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) required the company to meet a regulation mandating commuter service operators to maintain a fleet of at least 30 vehicles. Critics speculate that this consolidation may have affected both operational standards and driver discipline.
Furthermore, there are growing concerns about whether Buscar is taking adequate measures to ensure the safety and comfort of its passengers, particularly as the festive season approaches, with unpredictable weather conditions and increased travel likely to put further strain on the company’s operations. This incident adds to a list of previous accidents involving Buscar, further highlighting the need for improvements in both vehicle maintenance and customer care.
Passengers and observers are now calling on Buscar to take immediate steps to address the situation, improve communication with passengers, and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
