Long-distance transport company Tahmeed Express has addressed a viral video showing passengers complaining about a bedbug infestation aboard one of its buses travelling from Mombasa to Nairobi.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the company said it had taken immediate action after the infestation was detected on bus registration KCR 615 on July 17, 2026.
Tahmeed said all passengers on the affected bus were transferred to another vehicle to allow them to continue their journey.
The company said bus KCR 615 was subsequently grounded, with technicians removing all seats before subjecting the interior to extensive spraying and deep fumigation.
According to the management, the bus underwent comprehensive inspections before being cleared to return to service after it was confirmed to be free of pests.
"We acknowledge the videos circulating online regarding bus KCR 615. On July 17, we identified a bedbug infestation on KCR 615. We acted at once. We moved all passengers to another bus to ensure your safety and comfort," the management said.
"We grounded KCR 615 and removed all seats. We thoroughly sprayed and fumigated the entire bus to eliminate all bedbugs. We have cleared the bus for service only after confirming it is 100 per cent pest-free."
The company said the incident had also prompted it to tighten its hygiene and pest-control measures across its fleet.
Tahmeed said it was increasing the frequency of routine fumigation of its buses and had banned the carrying of used bedding on all routes, citing it as a possible source of re-infestation.
"Going forward, to prevent this, we stopped carrying used bedding on all routes to prevent re-infestation," the management said.
The company is also upgrading seat-covering materials to specialised fabrics designed to minimise the risk of pests harbouring inside the buses.
The measures come amid growing concern among passengers following the circulation of the video, which showed travellers raising alarm over the presence of bedbugs on the bus.
The company said passenger feedback would remain an important part of its efforts to maintain its service standards.
“Tahmeed Management remains committed to delivering clean, safe, and reliable transportation services across all its routes,” the company said.
The incident occurred on the busy Mombasa-Nairobi route, where passengers reportedly raised the alarm after experiencing what they described as severe bites during the journey.
The travellers demanded that the bus stop and that the issue be addressed before they could continue their trip.
Tahmeed said its response was aimed at protecting passengers while also ensuring the affected vehicle underwent the necessary treatment before being allowed back on the road.
