The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has urged motorists, transport operators, parents and school administrators to exercise heightened caution as schools prepare to reopen after the long holiday break.
In a statement on December 30, 2025, the authority said the return to school period presents increased risks on the roads, particularly for children, and called for strict compliance with traffic regulations and vehicle safety requirements.
“In just a few days, thousands of children will be heading back to school,” NTSA said.
It noted that the responsibility for their safety rests collectively with private motorists, public service vehicle operators, school management and parents.
The authority urged all road users to plan their journeys adequately and avoid night travel due to reduced visibility.
NTSA emphasized that vehicle owners transporting children must ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and fully compliant with the law.
According to the statement, vehicles should have valid insurance, road service licences and up-to-date inspection certificates before being allowed on the road.
The authority warned parents and guardians against allowing children to board non-compliant vehicles, citing worrying findings from previous inspections.
“Previous compliance checks and inspections highlighted major defects in school transport vehicles, including faulty or non-transmitting speed limiters, defective brakes, missing or faulty seat belts, unstable seats, and malfunctioning door locks,” the statement read.
NTSA advised vehicle owners to use the remaining days before schools reopen to present their vehicles for mandatory annual inspection.
It noted that all NTSA motor vehicle inspection centres across the country are open and operational to facilitate the process.
In addition, the authority directed speed limiter vendors to ensure that all devices installed on vehicles meet national standards.
“We also direct speed limiter vendors to ensure that all gadgets installed on vehicles fully comply with the requirements of KS 2295:2018, including proper functioning, speed limiting, data storage, and real-time transmission to the NTSA system,” the statement said.
NTSA maintained that enforcement efforts will remain in place throughout the school reopening period.
The authority assured the public that multi-agency road safety compliance checks would continue without interruption to uphold safety standards.
“By adhering to these measures and working together, we can significantly reduce risks and ensure the safe return of our children to school,” NTSA said, reaffirming its commitment to protecting learners on Kenyan roads as the new school term begins.
