NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has intensified its nationwide road safety campaign, Operation Watoto Wafike Salama, as schools reopen, directing operators to present all school transport vehicles for inspection.
In a statement issued Sunday, the regulator said the renewed phase of the operation will deploy multi-agency teams to step up compliance checks on major highways and school transport routes across the country. The campaign targets the safety of school-going children during the high-risk back-to-school period.
“All school transport operators are expected to present their fleets for inspection to confirm that the vehicles are mechanically sound and safe for transporting children,” NTSA said.
The authority has also instructed school administrators to ensure that vehicles used to ferry learners meet all safety standards. These include fitting buses with functional seat belts and speed limiters, hiring qualified drivers, and enforcing strict adherence to designated routes.
NTSA further warned against lax supervision, urging schools to ensure discipline among drivers and conductors. Operators were reminded that sobriety is mandatory for all personnel involved in student transport.
The crackdown aligns with broader enforcement priorities under Kenya’s road safety framework, particularly the National Road Safety Action Plan (2024–2028), which emphasises preventive enforcement, vehicle inspection, and behavioural compliance.
The renewed campaign comes amid heightened concern over road safety following a fatal crash on the Narok–Mai Mahiu highway on Saturday. Seven people died after a trailer reportedly lost control due to brake failure and collided head-on with a Toyota Voxy travelling in the opposite direction.
According to NTSA, the truck veered off its lane before the collision, raising fresh questions about vehicle maintenance and compliance with mechanical safety standards.
“We assure the public that we are working closely with the National Police Service to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that led the driver to lose control of the vehicle,” the authority said.
The regulator added that findings from the probe will inform evidence-based interventions targeting key risk areas identified in the national safety plan.
Road safety experts have long pointed to mechanical failure, driver fatigue, and weak enforcement as leading causes of accidents on Kenyan highways.
The Narok–Mai Mahiu corridor, a critical transport route linking the Rift Valley and Nairobi, has recorded multiple serious accidents in recent years.
The latest NTSA directive places renewed responsibility on schools and transport providers, highlighting the legal duty of care owed to children under both traffic regulations and broader public safety obligations.
As inspections begin nationwide, NTSA says it expects full compliance from operators, warning that non-adherent vehicles will be barred from service.
The authority maintains that the success of Operation Watoto Wafike Salama will depend on coordinated action between regulators, schools, transport operators, and law enforcement agencies to ensure children travel safely to and from school.
