The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is set to conduct free motor vehicle inspection clinics for school buses and vans as part of its “Operation Watoto Wafike Salama” campaign.
The exercise will take place on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 9 am to 3 pm at all designated NTSA inspection centres nationwide.
In Kisii County, the inspections will be held a day earlier, on Friday, August 22, to accommodate local schools and transport operators.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring the safety of learners by checking the roadworthiness of school transport vehicles before schools reopen for the new term. The clinics will help identify potential risks and provide guidance to schools and vehicle owners on corrective measures to enhance safety.
Participating inspection centres include Mombasa, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Nyahururu, Machakos, Voi, Kitale, Kakamega, Nyeri, Thika, Kisumu, Embu, Meru, Kericho, Garissa, and the Likoni Road centre in Nairobi.
During the exercise, NTSA inspectors will carry out thorough safety assessments, focusing on braking systems, tires, seatbelts, lights, and the general mechanical condition of vehicles.
“We will make a safety assessment to guide motor vehicle owners and schools on corrective measures to take in order to ensure the safety of all our children,” the agency said.
Vehicle owners and schools will receive advice on any repairs or adjustments necessary to meet safety standards.
The Authority has urged schools and transport service providers to take advantage of the free inspection, emphasising that compliance will improve road safety and build parental confidence in school transport.
“Operation Watoto Wafike Salama” is part of NTSA’s broader effort to reduce accidents involving school buses and foster a culture of road safety across the country, following similar exercises for public service vehicles.
This comes days after the agency raised alarm over the state of school buses in the country.
"We have observed the following major safety concerns: speed limiter concerns: Some school transport vehicles had not installed speed limiters, while others operated with non-serviced (expired) speed limiters. We also noted that some of the installed speed limiters did not transmit data to the NTSA Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS)," the authority said in an earlier notice issued on Friday.
The authority called on schools to rely on the list of licensed speed limiter suppliers in Kenya as listed on its website.
NTSA further directed schools to work on their buses and vans' substandard interior conditions, which include: worn-out upholstery (ripped seats), unstable cushions, torn or jagged seat edges, malfunctioning door locks, and faulty sliding rails.
It noted that some of the vehicles also lacked seat belts, while in others, the seat belts and buckles were defective.
Several vehicles were also found to have poor seat anchorage and lacked anti-roll bars that are crucial for the stability of the vehicle, while others had no VIN plate.
"The standard guides that motor vehicles must be constructed by approved body builders and assessed by approved conformity assessors," the authority said.
Others were found to have poor exterior body condition, including corroded chassis and corroded body, as others exhibited faulty suspension (worn shock absorbers) and defective steering systems (worn tie rods).
"Taking cognizant of the risks posed by unroadworthy vehicles on our roads, we urge motor vehicle owners to perform routine maintenance and service their vehicles to identify and address potential problems. This will help minimise the risk of a road traffic crash because of mechanical failures," the authority said.
The authority further urged members of the public not to board or allow school children to be transported in unroadworthy vehicles.
"Toad safety is a shared responsibility, and if all road users actively participate in creating a safer environment, we can all contribute to reducing fatalities and injuries on our roads," it urged.
At the same time, NTSA systems have flagged 315,000 public service vehicles and commercial vehicles (tare weight 3,049 kgs and above) operating without valid motor vehicle inspection certificates, whose owners have been notified to undertake immediate remedial measures.
