NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Transport and Safety Authority has directed all driving schools operating in the country to register with the regulator, in a move aimed at improving the quality of driver training and enhancing road safety.
In a notice issued on April 14, the Authority said it is now mandatory for any institution offering driving lessons to obtain a valid licence before conducting training.
“Notice on driving school services. All driving schools are required to register with the Authority for training drivers,” NTSA said.
The directive targets both formal institutions and informal operators, as the government moves to streamline a sector that has grown rapidly in recent years.
Estimates indicate there are about 295 driving schools in Kenya, ranging from large national institutions to small private centres, many of which operate with varying levels of compliance.
NTSA said the registration requirement is part of broader reforms to ensure that only qualified and accredited institutions are allowed to train motorists, amid rising concerns over road safety and driver competence.
To comply, applicants must submit key documents, including a valid Kenya Revenue Authority PIN for the institution, company registration certificates, and identification documents for directors.
They must also provide a mobile number not linked to any active account on the Transport Integrated Management System.
The application process is conducted through the eCitizen platform, where applicants are required to fill in forms and upload supporting documents, including coloured photographs.
Following submission, NTSA will carry out verification and a physical inspection of the driving school premises. Successful applicants will then be required to pay the prescribed fees before being issued with a licence, which must be printed and displayed at the premises.
The Authority noted that the process typically takes about 10 working days, depending on how quickly applicants meet all requirements.
The crackdown is anchored in provisions of the Traffic Act, which criminalises the operation of unlicensed driving schools.
Offenders risk a fine of up to Sh20,000 or imprisonment for a term of not less than six months.
Road safety stakeholders have long raised concerns about the quality of driver training in Kenya, linking poorly trained drivers to the country’s high rate of road accidents.
NTSA says the new directive is expected to standardise training, improve compliance, and ultimately contribute to safer roads by ensuring that drivers are trained under regulated and professional conditions.
