NTSA Suspends Licences of 62 PSV Drivers in Festive Season Crackdown

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended the licences of 62 Public Service Vehicle (PSV) drivers following a compliance assessment.

According to the authority, the assessment uncovered multiple safety breaches across several operators.

NTSA noted that the affected drivers—drawn from seven transport companies—will be required to undergo mandatory re-testing before they are allowed back on the road.

It said the decision was part of its proactive measures to strengthen road safety standards, especially during the festive season.

The suspensions will remain in place, until the affected drivers fully comply, an official from NTSA told the Star.

Tahmeed Express Limited recorded the highest number of suspensions at 23 drivers, followed by Latema Travelers Bus and Safari Company Limited with 13.

Meru Nissan Operators Sacco had 10 drivers suspended, Moline Prestige Services Shuttle Limited had 6, MTrans Sacco Limited had 7, while Enabled Mashariki Investment Limited had 3.

NTSA has also directed all affected operators to organise road safety awareness training for their entire driver workforce and present selected vehicles for inspection.

According to the Authority, these requirements aim to ensure that all PSV operators adhere to established safety regulations and that every driver has the necessary competencies to operate safely.

“Several operators are currently under scrutiny to ensure their drivers and vehicles fully comply with established safety regulations,” the statement noted, underscoring the Authority’s commitment to enhancing road safety.

NTSA reiterated that such enforcement actions will continue as part of its broader strategy to reduce road accidents and safeguard passengers, particularly during high-travel periods.

The Authority urged operators to cooperate fully with ongoing assessments and emphasised that compliance remains essential to maintaining safety on Kenya’s roads.

NTSA data shows that between January 1 and October 22, 2025, a total of 3,890 people died in road crashes, surpassing the 3,805 fatalities recorded during the same period in 2024.

Among those killed were 351 drivers, 378 pillion passengers, 57 cyclists and an alarming 1,000 motorcyclists. Vulnerable road users remain the most affected, accounting for the majority of the lives lost.

NTSA acting director general Angele Wanjira said the agency is intensifying preventative measures anchored on the Safe System Approach—an internationally recognised framework that focuses on designing a transport system resilient enough to reduce the chance of human error resulting in death.

She said NTSA will work closely with the police in running targeted, multi-agency operations that prioritise prevention over reaction.

“We intend to strengthen real-time monitoring, roadside checks, public sensitisation and collaboration with passengers themselves,” Wanjira said.

She noted that NTSA is enforcing IRSMS (Intelligent Road Safety Management System) data transmission for public service vehicles and commercial fleets.

The digital platform tracks vehicles in real time, monitors driver behaviour—including speed, harsh braking and route patterns—and flags violations that can then trigger interventions such as retraining or sanctions.