Passengers required to show national IDs before boarding City Hoppa buses in Nairobi

Operators of City Hoppa buses at
the Kencom terminal now insist on
being shown identity cards before
allowing passengers to board their
buses.
This is in addition to the usual
frisking of passengers.
The bus company has hired a team
of security personnel to conduct the
checks. They are tasked with
checking luggages and using metal
detectors to screen passengers.
There is also an employee who
checks on identification documents
as passengers queue for the buses.
The security measures were
introduced on Monday is response
to the terror blasts on buses on
Thika superhighway.
According to the company’s
transport manager Gabriel Maina,
the measures are aimed at ensuring
that all passengers are in the
country legally.
“For foreigners, we are checking
their passports. For refugees, we
are requesting for the alien ID or a
letter from the Refugee
Commission,” said Mr Maina.
The company is not too strict on
those without identification
documents. Other forms of
identification allowed include work
IDs, waiting cards, driving licenses
or a student IDs.
Passengers who claim to have
forgotten their identification
documents are excused, but with a
reminder to carry them along next
time.
“Through this thorough check, we
hope to be able to identify criminal
elements and forward them to the
security officials for investigations,”
explained Mr Maina.
City Hoppa is the first bus company
in the city to introduce the new
measures.