A disturbing video of school-going children being dropped off by a matatu in the middle of the busy Thika Super Highway in Kenya has gone viral, causing public outrage.
The video shows pupils running for safety as they crawl under road barriers and dodge oncoming cars.
Led by the matatu conductor, the children painfully go through a trench and patiently wait by the roadside for a pedestrian pass that takes too long due to heavy morning traffic.
Kenyans on social media expressed their anger and questioned why the matatu driver would endanger the lives of innocent children in such a manner.
However, some people shifted the blame to the parents of the children, accusing them of neglecting their responsibilities.
It is worth noting that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) reported that in 2022, the number of pedestrians who lost their lives in accidents was 1,486, with drivers, passengers, pillion passengers, and pedal cyclists also among the fatalities.
The incident on Thika Super Highway raises serious concerns about the safety of school children who rely on public transport to get to and from school.
The government must take action to ensure that public service vehicles adhere to safety regulations and protect the lives of their passengers, particularly children.
Parents also have a vital role to play in ensuring that their children’s transportation to school is safe and secure.
