End of poor transport means in Africa

End of the road for Africa’s oldest buses 

Africa has been one of the continents struggling all along to change the form of transport that is encountered by passengers on a daily basis, traveling  anywhere in the African soil seemed to be a nightmare to many, but the current governments in different countries are making a difference by eradicating the old buses that many were used to.

There was no order in the old buses, instead, passengers could sit and stand on any available space for as long as they get to their destination. This had more negative impacts on the passengers than positive ones, The passengers faced problems such as pick pocketing, injuries to passengers and even damage to their clothes, traffic jam and even accidents due to overloading.
Did you ever see these buses??
They existed in Kenya in the 90s and early 2000.

That is a simple question to  answer with either a yes or a no,  this was the old days of Kenyan transport sector, this was the time transport was nothing but a nightmare, it was also risky for those whose who took a step like hanging on a bus like you will see below.
Any public service vehicles could carry as many passengers as it could without considering their safety nor the maximum number of passengers.

Kenya,Nairobi
Passengers hanging off a Bus in Nairobi. #dangeroustransport.
Before new transport rules.

Who could do this in the current day Kenya?
i guess no one, that is because the law is against such behaviors.

For those days it didn't matter who you were, what school you went to, what your social background was. All that mattered was being Kenyan. Not even what you have,  as long as you choose to use a bus.

Now that was Kenyan transport then and it was for the old Kenya, a new Kenya came when the former Minister  John Michuki imposed the Michuki rules, to regulate the Kenyan public service vehicles on how they conduct their daily activities, e.g a speed limit of 80 kph and a safety belt for each passenger. That is what marked end of the old buses in Kenya and the beginning of new form of transport.

Somewhere in Nairobi after new traffic rules

The different is visible, At least the new rules have brought order in the Kenyan roads as well as ensuring safety of passengers.
Anyone violating the rules could find himself/herself in court and end up paying a heavy fine. To avoid such many prefer being on the right hand of the law always.
So far their have been a complete eradication of old buses from Kenyan roads and several African countries who are lurking behind are going for the same. Kenya is now one of the countries in Africa with best means of transport after the leaders took a step to end the road to old poor form of transportation.

Senegal, Dakar
Country with oldest Buses in Africa
One of the outdated Renault Saviem-G4 buses on the streets of Dakar, Senegal.
Several African countries with old buses are following the trend to ensure safety of it's citizens while traveling, a recent example is Senegal, the old buses in Senegal are facing an elimination which is set to be a thing of the past by 2018.
These buses are arguably the oldest public service vehicles to be found anywhere on the continent. Thanks to skilful mechanics who mostly improvise while scrounging for spare parts.

The precise ownership of the 1,000-plus buses in Senegal is usually kept secret, but is attributed to a chain of invisible but influential former and current government functionaries.

Even drivers — the majority of them younger than the buses — believe their vehicles should be considered relics, fit only for the museums.