🔥 Trending Kenya's NTSA Launches New School Transport Safety Crackdown

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in Kenya has been actively working on new regulations to enhance the safety of school transport. These efforts have led to the development of the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2025, which aim to create a comprehensive regulatory framework ¹⁶. However, it's important to note that the Kenyan Senate has reportedly scrapped these rules, specifically the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026, along with other related regulations ². Despite this, NTSA continues to emphasize and enforce various safety requirements for school transport operations.

Key Aspects of NTSA's School Transport Safety Initiatives

NTSA's initiatives focus on several critical areas to ensure the safety of students during transportation. These include specific requirements for vehicles, drivers, and operators, as well as general operational guidelines.

Vehicle Requirements

NTSA has outlined several requirements for school vehicles, including buses and vans, to ensure they meet safety standards ¹⁶¹⁰.

• Distinct Labeling: School vehicles are required to have clear and distinct labeling to identify them as school transport ⁶. This often includes painting school buses in a specific color (e.g., yellow) and having "SCHOOL BUS" clearly written on the front and rear ⁹.
• Safety Features: Vehicles must be equipped with enhanced safety features. These include:
• Seatbelts: All occupants, including students, must wear seatbelts ⁹.
• First Aid Kit: A well-stocked first aid kit must be available in the vehicle ⁹.
• Fire Extinguisher: A functional fire extinguisher is mandatory ⁹.
• Speed Governors: All school vehicles must be fitted with speed governors to prevent overspeeding ⁹.
• Emergency Exits: Clearly marked and accessible emergency exits are required ⁹.
• Vehicle Inspection: Regular safety and compliance checks are conducted by NTSA on school vehicles to confirm adherence to the Traffic Act and relevant rules ⁷. This includes an eight-point safety checklist ⁹.
• Capacity: Vehicles must not carry excess passengers beyond their registered capacity ⁹.
• Maintenance: Vehicles must be roadworthy and well-maintained ⁹.

Driver and Attendant Requirements

The NTSA has introduced stringent requirements for drivers and attendants involved in school transport to ensure their competence and suitability ⁴⁵.

• Valid Driving License: Drivers must possess a valid driving license of the appropriate class for the vehicle they are operating ⁹.
• Good Conduct Certificate: Drivers are required to have a valid Certificate of Good Conduct ⁵. This aims to ensure that individuals transporting children have a clean record.
• Training and Experience: NTSA emphasizes the need for drivers to undergo specialized training in defensive driving and child safety ⁵. While specific years of experience may vary, the focus is on drivers having adequate experience in transporting passengers.
• Attendants: School vehicles, especially those carrying younger children, are often required to have a qualified attendant on board to supervise students and assist with boarding and alighting ⁷. Attendants must also undergo relevant training.
• No Alcohol/Drugs: Drivers must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while operating a school vehicle ⁹.

Operator and School Responsibilities

Schools and private transport providers also bear significant responsibilities in ensuring safe school transport ¹⁴.

• Registration and Licensing: All school transport operators, whether schools or independent providers, must be registered and licensed by NTSA ¹.
• Compliance Monitoring: Schools are expected to actively monitor their transport providers and ensure they comply with all NTSA regulations ⁹.
• Accountability: NTSA aims to hold transport providers accountable for non-compliance with safety standards ⁵.
• Safety Policies: Schools should have clear safety policies and procedures for student transportation, including emergency response plans.

Enforcement and Campaigns

NTSA actively conducts checks and campaigns to enforce these regulations and raise awareness about road safety ⁴⁷.

• "Operation Watoto Wafike Salama" (Children Arrive Safely) Campaign: This campaign specifically targets school transport safety, issuing eight key safety requirements for school buses and vans ¹⁰.
• Random Checks: NTSA conducts random safety and compliance checks on school transport providers, vehicles, drivers, and attendants at any time ⁷.

While the legislative status of the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2025/2026, has seen some back and forth with the Senate reportedly scrapping them ², NTSA continues to advocate for and enforce these safety measures through existing legal frameworks and ongoing campaigns ⁴⁵⁸. The overarching goal is to reduce road crashes involving school transport and standardize operations to protect learners ⁵.