NAIROBI, Kenya – More than 4,000 PSV drivers, SACCO managers, supervisors and operators are set to receive free training as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) rolls out a nationwide programme to professionalise Kenya’s public transport sector.
The programme seeks to improve road safety, strengthen compliance and transform PSV operations from informal, passenger-chasing businesses into professionally managed and financially sustainable enterprises.
The first cohorts began a four-day training programme on Monday, September 21, in Taita Taveta, Mombasa and Garissa, with the initiative expected to expand to other counties.
NTSA targets drivers and PSV managers
NTSA said the programme will address both the people behind the wheel and the organisations responsible for managing PSV operations.
The authority said drivers and operators are important partners in improving road safety and reducing crashes linked to behavioural, vehicle-related and operational factors.
“The programme is designed to treat drivers and operators as partners in road safety,” NTSA said.
The training is also intended to raise service standards and encourage PSV businesses to adopt stronger safety and management practices.
Four phases for nationwide rollout
The initiative will be implemented in four phases: design and baseline assessment, piloting, national rollout, and institutionalisation and sustainability.
The phased approach is intended to allow NTSA to assess the programme during the pilot stage before expanding it nationally.
Once implemented across the country, the authority expects trained participants to help sustain safety and compliance improvements within their respective SACCOs and companies.
What PSV drivers will learn
Drivers participating in the programme will undergo training in areas designed to improve their safety and professionalism on the road.
Key areas include:
- Defensive driving;
- Hazard identification and prevention;
- Vehicle safety checks;
- Passenger care;
- Compliance with traffic laws; and
- Safer operational practices.
The programme will focus on developing drivers who are more conscious of road risks while improving the quality of services offered to passengers.
SACCOs to receive management training
The programme will also target SACCO managers, supervisors and PSV operators, recognising that road safety depends on how transport businesses are organised and managed.
Training will cover SACCO and company management, compliance and the development of financially sustainable PSV business models.
NTSA said improving management practices could help operators move away from systems driven primarily by passenger competition and daily revenue pressure.
Nominated drivers and operators will also serve as road safety champions within their SACCOs and companies.
They will be expected to promote and sustain the practices introduced during the training after completing the programme.
NTSA plans professional driver certification
As part of the longer-term reforms, NTSA said it plans to work with training institutions to develop a Professional Drivers Certification programme.
The authority also intends to introduce a specialised course in Public Transport Management.
The courses are expected to provide a more structured pathway for professional development within the PSV industry while strengthening management capacity among operators.
Training comes ahead of festive travel season
The nationwide rollout comes ahead of the festive season, when passenger numbers and commercial activity on public transport networks typically increase.
The period can also place additional pressure on PSV operators as demand for travel rises.
NTSA’s programme is therefore intended to strengthen safety practices and compliance before the peak travel period while laying the foundation for longer-term professionalisation of Kenya’s public transport sector.
The authority said the initiative forms part of broader reforms aimed at building a safer, more compliant and professionally managed PSV industry.
