The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has activated enhanced road safety measures ahead of the August school holidays, with multi-agency teams set to intensify inspections and compliance checks on vehicles transporting learners across the country.
In a statement on Thursday, NTSA said the measures are aimed at protecting children as increased travel during the holiday period raises the risk of road traffic crashes involving learners.
The Authority said all road users, parents, guardians, school bus operators and transporters must prioritise the safety of children, noting that extra caution and responsibility are needed to ensure every learner reaches home safely.
“As schools across the country prepare for the August holidays, the Authority reminds all road users, parents, guardians, school bus operators, and transporters of the critical need to prioritise the safety of our children. Increased travel during this period significantly raises the risk of road traffic crashes involving learners. Extra caution and responsibility from everyone are essential since every child deserves to reach home safely,” NTSA said.
The intensified operations are being conducted under the ongoing Operation Watoto Wafike Salama Campaign in partnership with the National Police Service (NPS), County Transport and Safety Committees and other stakeholders.
NTSA said the campaign will involve increased road safety compliance checks and public awareness activities along major transport corridors.
The Authority outlined several measures to be implemented during the August school closure period, including heightened multi-agency patrols and spot checks on vehicles transporting children.
The inspections will focus on key safety requirements such as vehicle roadworthiness, functional speed limiters, seat belts, tyres, brakes, lights and other critical safety features.
NTSA said strict action will be taken against motorists who violate road safety rules, including speeding, overloading, drunk driving, driver fatigue and other offences that endanger children and other road users.
The Authority will also conduct random checks on driving licences, PSV badges, road service licences and vehicle inspection certificates to ensure transport operators comply with safety regulations.
In addition, NTSA said it will enhance road safety education and awareness campaigns targeting motorists and members of the public.
The Authority urged members of the public to support the campaign by reporting incidents or unsafe practices that put children at risk.
Reports can be made through Police Hotlines 999, 911 or 112, St. John’s Ambulance toll-free number 0800722540 or hotline 0721225285, Red Cross toll-free number 1199, and the NTSA Incident Reporting Platform at ntsa.go.ke/report-incident.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility. Let us all play our part to protect our children,” NTSA said.
The Authority also issued a checklist for school administrators ahead of the holiday period, advising them to use roadworthy vehicles to transport children and hire qualified drivers.
Schools have also been asked to ensure buses are equipped with safety belts, supervise and monitor driver conduct, confirm that speed limiters are functional and ensure drivers and conductors are not drunk.
NTSA further urged school administrators to ensure school buses and vans use the correct routes.
Students are expected to begin their three-week August holiday on August 3, 2026, before returning to school on August 24 for the third and final term of the academic year. The third term will last nine weeks before closing on October 23, 2026.
National assessments and examinations will begin immediately after the end of the term. The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will be administered from October 26 to October 29, 2026.
The Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) will also begin on October 26, 2026. The Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) is scheduled to start on November 2, 2026.
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations will also begin on November 2, 2026, and end on November 20, 2026. After the examinations, learners will proceed for the December holiday, which will run for 10 weeks from October 26, 2026, to January 1, 2027.
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