Passengers forced to abandon Tahmeed bus after bedbug infestation

Passengers travelling from Mombasa to Nairobi aboard a Tahmeed Coach bus were forced to abandon the vehicle after complaining of a bedbug infestation that left some of them with bites during the journey.

The affected bus, registration number KCR 615, was later taken out of service by Tahmeed for thorough cleaning and fumigation after the company confirmed that it had been infested with bedbugs.

The incident has raised concerns over hygiene standards in long-distance public transport, with passengers spending several hours travelling in enclosed buses and relying on operators to maintain clean and safe vehicles.

One of the passengers, Mr Patrick Mungai, claimed that the problem became apparent after the bus left Mombasa.

“We boarded the bus at Mwembe Tayari and by the time we reached Changamwe, several people were complaining that they had been bitten by bedbugs. However, the driver continued with the journey,” Mr Mungai said.

He said some passengers became increasingly uncomfortable as they continued travelling and eventually refused to proceed in the affected bus.

The passengers were later taken to Bonje, where Tahmeed buses are parked, and transferred to another vehicle.

“Even after we got off, people were still being bitten by bedbugs. When we reached Bonje, we were transferred from KCR 615 to another bus and continued with the journey,” Mr Mungai said in a video posted on TikTok.