Chilling details are now emerging from the deadly bus-train crash that happened during the week claiming 11 lives. The accident that involved an Umoinner Sacco bus and a train has raised more questions than answers with more blame fingers pointing at the driver and tout for negligence.
Nairobi Exposed has pursued the link to find out the answers from the ground. Professionalism has been a contagious issue and according to initial survey most of the bus drivers attached to this company lacks professional skills.
A driver to one of the buses talking on anonymity basis reveals to NE shocking revelations how him and many others got to join the company,”me like most people I started off as a tout along the way learnt how to drive,with time I graduated to a full driver and i’m good at it no question about it” reveals the driver to NE.
According to James Shawn* a resident in Umoja and acquainted with the operations of Umoinner Sacco,most of the drivers never get to attend driving schools,they only learn it along the way then bribe for a driving licence,”these guys never attend driving schools maybe not all but I know of 16 I personally know and can tell that they never stepped on any driving school but they are driving now” says Shawn.
Umoinner Sacco is said to own a fleet of over 100 PSVs and served 80%+ of the Eastlands population making it a major source of employment to the youths. It pays over 200 workers including drivers and touts.
But with those in the official payroll there are also those who get to net out in between.
Back to the question of professionalism,Shawn gives what he describes as the life circle of Umoinner Sacco Drivers,” most of them are either school dropouts,former streets urchins,unemployed youths so when they join in the first stage is by becoming a makanga [tout] in the stage,next you graduate to a squad makanga,Next stage you graduate to a full Makanga,at this point one gets to learn basic driving skills then become a squads
Driver,you are allowed to take the bus over short distances or to and from town and leave it to the next to take over,by now the licence had been bought already,comes at a very cheap price less than sh.10k,after operating as squads driver,you get the ultimate graduation,off to a full umoinner driver” he reveals to NE.
So there you have a driver who never stepped on any class but can drive. Some like the feted driver lacks basic skills for example ge should have known that when the train is nearing,its magnetic magnitude goes high and will pull any metal that comes into contact,matter of fact it is because of this that the bus failed to start and stopped at the middle of the train line the metals beneath had been attracted interfering with the engine system.
It has been said that most of the drivers and touts drink and smoke marijuana,in fact the feted driver is said to have “charged” his head just moments before jumping on the pedal.
“yes we do smoke and drink,that is just a routine,ask yourself why bars and spirits shops are located near these stages,weed suppliers are also freely available. This job needs you to stay hyper and that’s it” a squad driver reveals to NE.
True to the words wines and spirits shops are thronged around Mutindwa market,making access to them super easy and quick. Khat a common stimulant is also very common with the touts here,not only the Umoinner’s but most Eastlands’ and you won’t Miss to spot the crew members heavily chewing miraa.
What is evident in this whole scenario,most of the drivers could possibly be lacking professional skills,alcohol and drugs abuse is a nuisance,most of the drivers and touts are ever under influence putting the lives of passengers under risk.
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