Several Injured After School Buses Carrying 101 Pupils Collide

At least 13 students have been injured after two school buses collided in the Riting area of West Pokot County. 

The buses, which were carrying 101 pupils on an educational trip, crashed on Tuesday afternoon, leading to an emergency response by rescue teams. The Kenya Red Cross said six boys and seven girls were injured and taken to Kapenguria Referral Hospital for treatment. 

County ambulances, along with an additional vehicle from the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), were deployed to support the evacuation. Response teams from West Pokot and neighbouring Turkana County also assisted in managing the situation.

Psychosocial support has been provided to the affected pupils and staff following the crash. Reports indicating that one person died have not yet been independently confirmed.

Images from the scene showed one of the buses overturned, highlighting the seriousness of the collision. Teachers and pupils who did not require immediate medical care were moved to a safe area as rescue operations continued into the evening. 

The Kenya Red Cross described the response as a major operation involving several agencies working together to assist those affected. The crash occurred as schools across Kenya began closing for the August holidays, a period that usually involves increased travel among learners. 

A day before the accident, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) had warned vehicle owners and drivers to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy and that all licensing requirements were met before travelling. The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of school transport during periods of increased movement. 

Safety officials have previously raised concerns over the condition of some vehicles used to transport learners and the need for stricter enforcement of transport regulations. Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.