- NTSA has launched Operation Watoto Wafike Salama to enforce safety standards on school buses and matatus ahead of August holiday travel.
- Vehicles will undergo rigorous checks on tyres, brakes, seat belts, speed governors, and driver qualifications.
- Parents, schools and the public are urged to prioritise safety, report unsafe practices, and ensure learners travel securely.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has unveiled a nationwide crackdown on school buses and public service vehicles ferrying learners as schools prepare to close for the August holiday. The enforcement drive, dubbed Operation Watoto Wafike Salama, is designed to guarantee that children travel home safely during one of the busiest periods on Kenya’s roads.
NTSA officials said the initiative will involve coordinated inspections and enforcement by the authority, the National Police Service, County Transport and Safety Committees and other stakeholders. The campaign is expected to intensify checks on roadworthiness, driver qualifications and compliance with safety regulations.
“Operation Watoto Wafike Salama is a reminder to all road users, parents, guardians, school bus operators and transporters of the critical responsibility of prioritising the safety of children,” NTSA stated.
Under the operation, school buses and learner transport vehicles will undergo rigorous mechanical inspections. Officers will check tyres, brakes, seat belts, speed limiters and other critical safety components. Drivers will also face heightened scrutiny, with licences, PSV badges, inspection certificates and road service licences verified to ensure only qualified personnel are entrusted with transporting learners.
The authority has warned that speeding, overloading, drunk driving and driver fatigue will attract strict penalties, noting that these remain among the leading causes of fatal crashes in Kenya. School administrators have been directed to hire competent drivers, engage reliable transport providers and ensure vehicles are fitted with functional safety belts and speed governors.
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The campaign comes as Kenya continues to grapple with road carnage, particularly during peak travel seasons. NTSA has emphasised that protecting learners requires a collective effort involving government agencies, schools, parents, drivers and the wider community.
Parents have been urged to play an active role by confirming that vehicles hired to transport their children are safe, properly licensed and operated responsibly. Authorities cautioned against choosing transport services based solely on affordability while ignoring safety standards.
Members of the public have also been encouraged to report unsafe practices such as reckless driving, overloading and unroadworthy school buses through emergency hotlines 999, 911 and 112, alongside other official reporting channels.
Beyond enforcement, NTSA says public awareness will remain central to the campaign. The authority hopes to instil a lasting culture of road safety where the welfare of children is treated as a national priority.
By Hillary Muhalya
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