School buses to undergo inspection by May 1 in new traffic rules

Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen (centre) speaks at Transcom House, Nairobi, when he issued the directive.  [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

The government has blacklisted illegal Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) from operating on Kenyan roads with immediate effect.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a stern warning that illegal PSVs including vehicles like Noah, Probox, and Voxies among others will be impounded and their owners and operators charged per traffic regulations.

In a bid to curb the surge in road accidents in the country, Murkomen has also directed all school buses to undergo inspection by May 1, 2024.

The exercise will be conducted by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

No PSVs will be issued with short-term licenses going forward. Similarly, the Authority is required to immediately cease issuance of new PSV operator routes, pending vetting.

The new directives are informed by what the CS says is a surge of accidents this year compared to last year, the same period (i.e. January to April).