At least 19 people were injured on Saturday morning after a school van ferrying pupils to Mahehe Friends Academy was involved in an accident in Endarasha, Nyeri County, prompting an urgent rescue response from emergency teams.
The incident occurred on January 31, 2026, along Charity Road in Kieni West, where the vehicle lost control, veered off the road and rolled into a ditch while transporting children to school.
Rescue teams moved quickly to the scene moments after the crash. The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that its response units were deployed and worked together with county ambulances and other rescuers to assist victims and free those trapped inside the damaged van.
“A road traffic incident involving a school bus that veered off the road and overturned has been reported in Endarasha, Nyeri County. Response teams have been deployed. More to follow,” the Kenya Red Cross said in a post on X soon after the crash.
Injured pupils were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to hospital as rescuers continued working at the scene. Nineteen people were taken to Nyeri County Referral Hospital, where they are receiving treatment from medical teams.
In a later update, the Red Cross confirmed the number of casualties and said rescue efforts were still ongoing.
“Update: Nineteen people with injuries have been taken to Nyeri County Referral Hospital for treatment. Rescue operations are ongoing to reach those still trapped,” the organisation said.
Authorities said they were coordinating the response to ensure those injured received proper medical care and that families were given accurate information. County officials dispatched additional ambulances to help with evacuation, while police secured the area to allow rescue teams to operate without disruption.
The accident has once again drawn attention to safety concerns around school transport in Kenya, particularly in rural areas. Parents and teachers have repeatedly raised concerns about road conditions, vehicle upkeep and overcrowding.
The incident comes just weeks after another school bus overturned in Kimende along the Nairobi–Naivasha highway as students were returning to school.
Following that crash, the National Transport and Safety Authority urged motorists to be cautious around school vehicles, warning that reckless driving puts children’s lives at risk.
Authorities have continued to call for stricter enforcement of safety rules governing school transport, including routine vehicle inspections and proper training for drivers.
