The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in Kenya has initiated a nationwide training program for over 4,000 public service vehicle (PSV) drivers, operators, SACCO managers, and supervisors. This program, which started on September 21, aims to professionalize Kenya's public transport sector. The first cohorts began a four-day training program in Taita Taveta, Mombasa, and Garissa counties.
The training program is part of broader reforms to move public transport away from informal practices towards professionally managed, safety-focused, financially sustainable, and compliant businesses. NTSA recognizes that improving road safety requires attention not only to drivers but also to the organizations that employ and manage them. Both play critical roles in advancing a safety culture and reducing preventable crashes linked to behavioral, vehicular, and operational factors.
The driver-focused training covers defensive driving, passenger care, professional conduct, communication, and driver wellness. Participants will also be trained on vehicle safety, fuel efficiency, hazard perception, vehicle inspections, smooth driving, legal awareness, digital systems, and emergency response. An integrated competency assessment will be used to identify safety gaps among participants and determine immediate measures to address them.
The program is designed to create a network of safety champions within SACCOs and transport companies. Selected drivers and operators who complete the training will take on the role of "road safety champions," helping sustain safety practices within their organizations. For operators and SACCO managers, the training will address business and management challenges facing the PSV sector, including strategic leadership, governance, financial performance, and fleet management.
The training program is being implemented in four phases: design and baseline assessment, pilot training, scale-up and national rollout, and institutionalization and sustainability. A Training of Trainers cohort has already completed its program to provide personnel capable of supporting the wider rollout. The first driver and operator cohorts have been scheduled ahead of the festive season, a period when passenger numbers and commercial pressure on public transport operators typically increase.
NTSA plans to work with training institutions to develop a professional course in Public Transport Management and Professional Drivers Certification. The reforms come amid longstanding concerns over compliance with traffic laws, licensing requirements, vehicle roadworthiness, insurance, and passenger safety standards in the PSV industry. The program will also provide "practical, sector-informed input" into the review of the PSV (Operations) Regulations, 2014, and the wider licensing framework.
The training is free, and drivers and operators seeking information can contact NTSA through [email protected], its X platform, @ntsa_kenya, and Facebook, @NTSAKENYA, or visit the nearest NTSA office or Huduma Centre. The authority is pursuing wider structural changes, including operator consolidation, contract-based service delivery, and integrated fare systems. The reforms aim to strengthen the partnership between regulators and the public transport industry while supporting sustainable and profitable PSV businesses and improving passenger protection.
Key points
- The program aims to treat drivers and operators as partners in road safety.
- The training program covers various aspects, including defensive driving, passenger care, and vehicle safety.
- The initiative is part of broader reforms to professionalize Kenya's public transport sector.
