The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has renewed its appeal to the public to report school buses operating outside permitted hours, as learners return to schools for the first term of 2026, which began on January 5.
The authority is enforcing a legal requirement that bars school buses from traveling between 6 pm and 6 am, a rule first introduced under the Traffic (Amendment) Act of 2017.
The law was originally implemented in 2018 after a series of deadly nighttime accidents involving students.
NTSA emphasized that the regulation aims to protect learners by reducing travel during hours deemed high-risk, when visibility is poor and drivers are more prone to fatigue.
The move follows earlier measures by the government to enhance student safety, including a directive by then Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i requiring all school buses to be painted yellow.
The colour was chosen to make the vehicles more visible on the roads and alert other motorists to exercise caution around them.
The safety rules came in response to several tragic accidents, including a fatal incident in Mwingi where a school bus veered off a narrow road at night and landed in a ditch, killing 10 pupils.
Despite the regulations, enforcement has been inconsistent over the years. Some schools have continued to operate buses beyond the designated hours, prompting repeated calls for stricter supervision.
On August 5, 2025, Basic Education Permanent Secretary Julius Bitok warned that most schools were ignoring the rule by allowing buses to run outside the legal timeframe.
“Our regulations are very clear. Basic education regulations require that buses should not be on the road beyond 6 pm or before 6 am,” Bitok said. “I want to call on all our drivers and stakeholders: let us stick to the rules. That is the policy of the government, and everybody is directed.”
He also instructed county directors of education to step up monitoring and ensure compliance, warning that schools and drivers found violating the law would face action.
With the new school term underway, NTSA is urging parents, teachers, and the public to report any school bus seen transporting learners outside the stipulated hours. Using the slogan Pumzisha Mboka (Sheng for “take a break from work”), the authority reminded drivers that strict adherence to the travel schedule is essential for student safety.
“School buses are not permitted to operate before 6 am or after 6 pm to keep learners safe. Early morning and late evening travel increases risks,” NTSA said. The public can send photos or videos of reckless drivers via 0709-932-000 or upload the footage on NTSA’s social media pages.
