The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has issued a safety checklist for school administrators that stresses the need for safe and responsible transportation of children.

In a statement on August 21, 2025, the authority has emphasised the list below for the administrators:

Further, the authority has launched Operation Watoto Wafike Salama, a nationwide safety campaign that will offer free motor vehicle inspection clinics for school transport vehicles on Saturday, August 23, 2025.

The clinics will run from 09:00 am to 3:00 pm at designated NTSA inspection centres and are designed to assess the roadworthiness of buses and vans used to ferry learners and to advise owners and schools on corrective measures required for compliance.

NTSA inspectors will carry out comprehensive safety assessments of school transport vehicles.

Checks will focus on braking systems, tyres, lights, seat belts and the general mechanical condition of each vehicle.

Inspectors will verify that vehicles hold valid inspection certificates, a current road service licence and insurance cover.

Drivers will be required to present valid driving licences and PSV badges.

The authority has emphasised that functional speed limiters must be fitted and actively transmitting data to the Intelligent Road Safety Management System, IRSMS.

The free inspection clinics are scheduled for Saturday, August 23, 2025, at NTSA centres in major towns, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Machakos, Kakamega, Kisumu, Voi, Uasin Gishu, Nyahururu, Kitale, Nyeri, Thika, Embu, Meru, Kericho and Garissa.

The Kisii clinic will be held a day earlier on Friday, August 22, 2025, at Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho, to accommodate local operators and schools.

This comes weeks after the Ministry of Education (MoE) issued a warning to all school transport operators across Kenya, asking them to strictly adhere to the government’s “6-to-6” policy.

The rule bars school buses from operating before 6:00 AM and after 6:00 pm.