Kenya’s NTSA Cracks Down on Public Transport Operators Amid Safety Lapses

In a major regulatory move aimed at improving road safety, Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended the operating licences of several public service vehicle (PSV) operators and sanctioned dozens of drivers following a spate of fatal road crashes in the December 2025 festive season and early 2026, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

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The action forms part of an intensified crackdown on safety compliance within the public transport sector, which has faced mounting criticism over frequent crashes, poor vehicle maintenance, and widespread violations of operating standards.

In a nationwide enforcement statement released on 20 January 2026, the NTSA announced it had immediately suspended the licences of four major PSV operators, including Greenline Company Ltd, Monna Comfort Sacco, Naekana Route 134 Sacco Ltd, and Uwezo Coast Shuttle, for failing to meet statutory safety requirements and for involvement in crashes that claimed lives on busy highways.

Two other operators, The Guardian Coach and Nanyuki Express, were issued a 21-day ultimatum to rectify safety breaches or face total suspension, the authority said.

In addition to company suspensions, NTSA cancelled the PSV endorsement of dozens of drivers, with licences suspended for 90 days and mandatory re-testing required before they can resume driving duties.

Operators were also instructed to disengage affected drivers from all transport responsibilities immediately.

The crackdown targets multiple aspects of safety compliance, including:

• Non-compliance with KS 2295-2023 vehicle safety standards
• Failure to install or properly maintain speed limiters
• Breaches of PSV Regulations 2014
• Driver fatigue management and rest protocols
• Inadequate staff records and compliance reporting

NTSA has mandated operators present vehicles for safety inspections, establish driver rest areas on long-distance routes, and conduct road safety training for drivers before licences can be reinstated.

The authority has also warned the public not to board vehicles belonging to suspended operators, underscoring that such companies are not legally authorised to provide transport services while their licences remain revoked.

In separate safety outreach, NTSA officials have reiterated the importance of avoiding substance use such as alcohol and miraa before driving, noting that impaired judgment and slowed reactions are major factors in highway crashes.

The latest enforcement coincides with broader criticism of NTSA’s road safety oversight, including allegations that systemic enforcement lapses allowed unroadworthy vehicles and poorly trained drivers to continue operating.

Last year, the agency faced legal action over alleged failure to enforce safety standards after multiple fatal accidents, including incidents that killed dozens of passengers around the festive season.

Road safety advocates and transport associations have also called for stricter licensing standards and better driver training to address chronic safety issues within Kenya’s public transport network.

Public service vehicles, ranging from long-distance buses to commuter matatus, carry millions of passengers daily across Kenya’s highways and urban centres.

Ensuring these vehicles meet rigorous mechanical and safety standards is critical to reducing road fatalities and serious injuries.

Analysts say the NTSA’s crackdown, while welcomed by many safety campaigners, must be sustained with robust enforcement and industry cooperation to deliver lasting improvements.