School bus that mysteriously changed hands, converted into PSV traced to Kisii

St Stevens Secondary School bus

Currently, most schools own buses with the aid of CDF funds. But did you know that some schools never use these buses for their purpose? Well, a school bus that was bought using taxpayers’ money has mysteriously changed hands and converted into a public service vehicle without ever being used for the original purpose.

The bus, registration number KCE 129L, was bought by the Embakasi South National Government Constituencies Development Fund in the 2014/15 financial year for St Stevens Secondary School in Embakasi. Irshad Sumra was then the area MP and is vying on ODM ticket in the by-election slated for April 5 this year.

After initially being told the bus was operating in the city on Wednesday, the Sunday Nation team traced it to Nyangancha Market in Kisii County where it has remained parked for the past three weeks. It bears the brand colours and insignia of City Shuttle, a company that runs buses on several routes in Nairobi.

The director of St Stevens Secondary School, Mr Zablon Karani, however says that the bus has not been converted to a matatu.

“I am not aware that the bus has been rebranded. Some people are just making up pictures and sharing them. According to me, the bus is at the garage,” said Mr Karani.

“Gari ililetwa juzi na vijana wakaambiwa watoe hiyo rangi ya City Shuttle na ingine itapakwa. Hata ukiangalia gari hapo mbele imeshaanza kutolewa rangi (The bus was brought here the other day and some mechanics were told to remove the City Shuttle colours and repaint it. In fact, work has already started),” said a source in Kisii.

Residents said the bus had been there for more than three weeks and they were wondering why a Nairobi-based vehicle had been abandoned in one of the most remote parts of Kisii County.

“We are also wondering why the owner who we are told is from Nyamira is not taking it to his home county. We suspect something fishy,” said one of the residents.

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