For the first time in history, Ethiopia is deploying sleeper Coaches for the newly introduced cross-border bus service routes linking Addis Ababa with Nairobi.
The new direct bus service connecting Addis Ababa and the Kenyan Capital City is being operated by the Abyssinia Luxury Coach Company of Ethiopia featuring mostly Daewoo fleet of sleeper buses manufactured in South Korea.
The Addis Ababa to Nairobi bus service is a new development, marking a pivotal step in overland connectivity that is expected to significantly enhance trade, business, and tourism between the two East African nations.
But when contacted, the Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and Logistic, said they had no information about the new bus service which was supposed to be flagged off in the first or second week of August 2025.
This new route addresses the rising cost of air travel and limited ground alternatives, offering a more affordable and comfortable option for travellers and traders. The service is anticipated to reduce travel costs, directly facilitating increased movement of goods and people.
Unlike other buses though, Abyssinia equipment offer on-board private hatches equipped with recliner beds to make the nearly 1500 kilometres’ journey between the two countries, bearable.
One way trip could take up to 24 hours and cost between 7500 and 9000 Kenyan shillings or nearly USD 70.
But the company says the services will also include Addis-Ababa to Mombasa routes and in future they may extend that to Tanzania.
Experts believe the bus link will foster stronger economic integration, boosting cross-border trade in agricultural products, chemicals, and other commodities.
Furthermore, it is poised to stimulate tourism by making travel between the two vibrant capitals more accessible, encouraging cultural exchange and strengthening people-to-people ties.
This initiative underscores the deepening bilateral relationship and shared economic aspirations of Ethiopia and Kenya.
It is also worth noting that Ethiopia immigration office doesn’t operate 24 hours, usually closing at 6 pm in the evenings, which means the bus schedule needs to take this into account.
One Ruth Ogando recalls that in 2021 they travelled to Addis Ababa from Nairobi by bus.
“Upon getting to Moyale border, our bus was denied access and we were stranded for 2 days at the border, only for them to let us know later that our bus can’t drive through their country. We left our bus at the immigration office at the Kenyan border,” She said.
“We were given an old minibus which we squeezed ourselves for an exhausting 10-hour drive at night before being changed to another better bus for the remaining journey to Addis. It was such a bad journey that you will rather take a flight.