Kenya, 5 January 2026 - As schools reopen for the 2026 academic year, the government has rolled out a renewed road safety campaign, warning parents, drivers and school administrators against using illegal and poorly maintained vehicles to transport learners.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir issued a travel advisory on Monday, urging families to make safety a priority as thousands of children return to classrooms nationwide. He cautioned that unregulated transport, including vehicles operating without licences or safety certification, has been linked to a series of recent road crashes involving school-going children.
Chirchir advised parents to plan travel early and discourage late-night journeys, noting that darkness, fatigue and reckless driving significantly increase the risk of accidents. He also appealed for greater parental involvement in teaching children basic road safety habits.
“Choose safe and compliant transport for your children. Teach children the basics of road safety; looking both ways before crossing and using designated crossings. The safety of our children is everyone’s responsibility,” Chirchir said.
He further called on members of the public to take an active role in enforcing road discipline by reporting dangerous driving. “Let us uphold our traffic laws, be mindful of one another, and ensure that every learner arrives safely at school and returns home at the end of the day. Report reckless behaviour to the authorities @ntsa_kenya, and @NPSOfficial_KE, your vigilance can save lives,” he added.
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In support of the directive, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) announced intensified compliance checks targeting vehicles used to ferry schoolchildren. The Authority reminded vehicle owners that all school transport vehicles must be fully licensed, insured and inspected, with valid road service licences and inspection certificates.
NTSA said previous inspections uncovered serious safety lapses, including faulty speed limiters, worn-out brakes, missing or defective seat belts, unstable seats and malfunctioning door locks. Parents and guardians have been strongly urged not to allow children to board any vehicle that does not meet safety standards.
“We advise motor vehicle owners to take advantage of the next few days before schools reopen and present their vehicles for the mandatory annual inspection, as all NTSA motor vehicle inspection centres are open and operational,” the Authority said in a statement.
The regulator has also directed speed limiter vendors to ensure all devices comply with KS 2295:2018 standards, including proper speed control, data storage and real-time transmission to NTSA systems.
“By adhering to these measures and working together, we can significantly reduce risks and ensure the safe return of our children to school,” the statement added, assuring Kenyans that multi-agency road safety checks will continue throughout the term.
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