Opinion - NTSA Crackdown Exposes Deep Safety Lapses in Public Transport | Dawan Africa

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

20 January 2026 - The National Transport and Safety Authority’s (NTSA) suspension of operating licences for several public transport operators following fatal road crashes over the December 2025 festive season marks one of the most far-reaching regulatory crackdowns in recent years.

Beyond punitive action, the move lays bare persistent systemic failures in fleet management, driver discipline, night travel controls and compliance with statutory safety standards across Kenya’s long-distance transport industry.

In a statement issued on Monday, NTSA cited fatal crashes, widespread speed limiter violations, non-compliance with KS 2295:2023 standards and breaches of the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Regulations, 2014, as grounds for suspending or conditionally restricting operations of at least six operators.

Among those affected is The Guardian Coach Limited, which was involved in a road traffic crash on 6 January 2026 along the Nairobi–Naivasha highway at Kimende.

While the operator was granted a 21-day window to comply with NTSA conditions, the Authority warned that failure to meet the requirements would trigger an outright suspension. The firm has been ordered to present 24 vehicles for speed limiter functionality checks and compliance inspection, while 18 drivers implicated in speed violations have had their PSV endorsements cancelled and licences suspended for 90 days, pending mandatory re-testing.

A similar ultimatum was issued to Nanyuki Express Cab Services Ltd following a fatal crash on January 4, 2026 at Karai along the Nakuru–Nairobi highway.

NTSA directed the company to subject 128 vehicles to speed limiter verification and inspection at the Nyeri Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre. In addition, 26 drivers linked to speed violations were suspended from driving duties, with their licences revoked for three months.

However, for other operators, the Authority took a harder line. Monna Comfort Sacco, which recorded a fatal crash on December 23, 2025 along the Eldoret–Webuye road at Muhonje, had its operations suspended outright. NTSA cited multiple violations across its 19-vehicle fleet, alongside driver misconduct. A similar fate befell Greenline Company Ltd, involved in a fatal crash at Karai on January 4, 2026, and Naekana Route 134 Sacco Ltd, whose vehicles were implicated in a deadly accident on the Mombasa–Nairobi highway at Konza on 2 January 2026.

In total, hundreds of vehicles across the affected operators have been flagged for inspection, while more than 90 drivers face licence suspension and compulsory re-testing. NTSA also suspended Uwezo Coast Shuttle, citing failure to honour summons following a fatal crash on January 6, 2026 along the Muhoroni–Londiani road.

Beyond individual crashes, NTSA’s enforcement action signals a renewed focus on night travel safety, a segment long associated with high-speed violations, driver fatigue and weak operational oversight.

The Authority has now imposed sweeping compliance conditions before any reinstatement of licences, including proof of authorisation for night operations, fatigue management systems, designated driver change-over points, verified passenger manifests, and updated fleet maintenance records.

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Operators have also been ordered to submit internal operational manuals covering speed monitoring, journey management and emergency response procedures, alongside evidence of statutory compliance such as signed driver contracts, payroll records, and remittances to PAYE, NSSF, and SHA.

Importantly, NTSA has directed that all drivers undergo road safety sensitisation sessions facilitated by the Authority itself — a move that underscores concerns that safety training within many Saccos has become a box-ticking exercise rather than a functional risk-control tool.

The Traffic Department has been instructed to impound vehicles belonging to suspended operators found on the road, while members of the public have been warned against boarding affected vehicles.

NTSA says it will conduct fresh safety compliance audits before any operator is cleared to resume service.

The crackdown comes amid growing public pressure for accountability in a sector that continues to record preventable fatalities despite years of regulatory reforms.

While the suspensions may disrupt travel along key corridors in the short term, transport analysts argue that sustained enforcement — rather than episodic crackdowns — will determine whether the latest NTSA action delivers lasting change.

For now, the Authority has drawn a clear line: compliance is no longer negotiable, and passenger safety will take precedence over commercial convenience.