The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has issued a strong safety warning to parents, motorists, and transport operators ahead of the reopening of schools, urging strict compliance with traffic and vehicle safety regulations to protect children returning to class.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, NTSA emphasized that the safety of school-going children is a shared responsibility involving private motorists, public transport operators, school administrators, and parents.

“With thousands of children set to travel back to school in the coming days, all road users must exercise utmost caution, obey traffic rules, plan journeys properly and avoid night travel due to reduced visibility,” the Authority said.

NTSA reminded vehicle owners and school transport providers that any vehicle used to ferry children must be roadworthy, fully licensed, and insured. The Authority noted that vehicles should have valid inspection certificates, road service licences, and functional safety equipment before being allowed on the road.

The Authority raised concern over recurring safety lapses identified during previous compliance checks, particularly in school transport vehicles. Among the major defects cited were faulty or non-transmitting speed limiters, defective brakes, missing or damaged seat belts, unstable seats, and malfunctioning door locks.

“To further protect our children, we strongly appeal to parents and guardians not to allow their children to board non-compliant vehicles,” NTSA warned, stressing that such defects pose a serious risk to young passengers.

Motorists were urged to use the remaining days before schools reopen to present their vehicles for the mandatory annual inspection, noting that all NTSA motor vehicle inspection centres across the country are open and operational.

The Authority also issued a directive to speed limiter vendors, requiring them to ensure that all installed devices fully comply with KS 2295:2018 standards. This includes proper speed limiting, reliable data storage, and real-time transmission to the NTSA system.

NTSA assured the public that multi-agency road safety compliance operations will continue uninterrupted during the school reopening period to enforce regulations and safeguard children.

“By adhering to these measures and working together, we can significantly reduce risks and ensure the safe return of our children to school,” the statement concluded.

The warning comes amid heightened traffic activity following the festive season, with NTSA reiterating that child safety on Kenyan roads remains a national priority.