580,367 sq km.
Population 39,002,772
Large cities: Nairobi (ca 2.000.000), Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Machakos
 

 
 

 
 

Information has been obtained from sources as referenced and the persons indicated below.

This site is divided into several subpages.
Please click on the links below:
Nairobi bus services:
-Kenya Bus Services (OTC and United)
-Stagecoach
-Nyayo Bus Service
-City Hoppa
-KBS
-matatus
Mombasa bus services
Nakuru bus services
Long distance bus companies
Other large public transport buses
Non public transport buses
Matatus outside the large cities
Bus builders in Kenya
 
railways

The completion of the railway from Mombasa to Lake Victoria in 1901 meant the start of modern economic development in what was then a British colony. Urban development started along the railway, creating passenger transport needs. The first urban bus service was started in Nairobi in 1934 by the London based Overseas Transport Corporation (OTC). Urban bus services were also operated in Mombasa and long distance bus services under the OTC banner. In 1964 United Transport International took over management of KBS.

In 1973 matatus (small buses) were legalised and started to compete heavily with KBS. OTC services were discontinued around 1990, leaving the long distance market fully in the hands of local private operators. An interesting intermezzo was provided for by the Nyayo Bus Service, a personal initiative of president Moi. NBS was founded in 1986 and operated bus services in Nairobi and several other cities. It grew rapidly but dissappeared just as fast and was gone in 1995. KBS services in Nairobi and Mombasa were sold to Stagecoach in november 1991. Though Stagecoach invested in some new buses and even brought doubledeckers back on Nairobi's streets, it was not able to face matatu competition and the many hurdles thrown up by the administration. Stagecoach sold out to local investors in october 1998.

The new KBS faced enormous challenges and collapsed in 2004. Nairobi was left to the chaos of large numbers of matatus, even though those had become more regulated. Local businesmen started services with larger buses again (for example City Hoppa) but these so far remained marginal. The KBS name was revived as a bus services franchising organisation, not operating buses itself.

Long distance services are provided by a number of private companies, among which Akamba, Mawingo and Coast are long term operators. Rural buses are large and often old vehicles for more important destinations. Minibuses and covered pick-ups (matatus) play a major role in rural transport.

Until recently buses had to be constructed locally from imported chassis components on which a range of bus builders constructed bodywork. Though local bus building is still important, some complete buses have been imported. As far as is kown the bus builders are mentioned with the pictures. They are also treated on a separate page.

(This site will be further developed over time)

I WELCOME ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AT
info@bus-africa.com