Yellow school bus directive challenged in court

A group of transporters in Nairobi have moved to court to challenge the directive issued by former Interior Security Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i requiring that all school buses be painted yellow.

The 28 complainants want the regulation nullified on grounds that it is causing them loss of business.

They claim that other than ferrying students the buses cannot be used in any other activities such as ferrying mourners, employees to and from work or other clientele.

It is their argument that to comply with the requirement; “would mean loss of business from other clientele who contribute to their livelihood.”

They also want the court to stop the police from impounding their vehicles and employees for not painting the vehicles.

Cabinet Secretaries Amina Mohamed (Education), Fred Matiang’i (Interior), James Macharia (Transport) and the Attorney General have been listed as respondents.

The deadline for repainting of school buses was March 31, 2018.

Last month, Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed warned public schools against flouting the new regulations saying any school buses that had not yet been painted yellow will not be allowed to carry students.

“All buses of public and private primary and secondary schools must be painted,” the CS said on April 3 during a visit to St Georges Girls High School in Nairobi.