The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has started a free training programme for public service vehicle (PSV) drivers and operators as part of efforts to improve road safety ahead of the December festive season.
The four-day training began on Monday, September 21, in Voi, Taita Taveta County, Mombasa and Garissa.
NTSA said the programme would later be rolled out to other counties across the country.
The authority said the timing was deliberate, with the festive season expected to bring an increase in passenger numbers and pressure on PSV operators.
“As part of ongoing reforms in the public transport sector, NTSA has launched a nationwide capacity-building program for public service vehicle (PSV) drivers and operators,” the authority said in a statement.
The first group of drivers and operators started the free training in the three counties as part of the pilot phase before the nationwide rollout.
NTSA said the programme targets not only drivers but also SACCO managers, operators and supervisors.
More than 4,000 people are expected to undergo training and certification under the programme.
The training will cover areas including defensive driving, hazard perception, vehicle safety checks, passenger care and emergency response.
Participants will also be taken through traffic law compliance, fuel efficiency and professional conduct.
NTSA said the programme will also look at the business side of public transport, including fleet management, financial performance, governance, customer experience and the use of digital systems.
The authority said the wider aim is to move the PSV sector away from informal operations and towards professionally managed and compliant transport businesses.
“The reforms aim to shift the sector from informal, passenger-chasing operations to professionally managed, safety-oriented, financially sustainable and compliant transport businesses,” NTSA said.
NTSA Eyes Changes to PSV Regulations
The training programme will also provide feedback that will be used in reviewing the PSV (Operations) Regulations, 2014, as well as the wider licensing framework.
NTSA has identified several possible structural changes, including consolidation of operators, contract-based service delivery and integrated fare systems.
The official said the reforms are part of ongoing initiatives aimed at improving the public transport sector.
The training will be conducted before the December festive season, which sees many Kenyans moving around the country in large numbers.
Road safety has continued to pose a challenge for the festive season.
In the 2025 festive season, a total of 415 people lost their lives through road accidents, marking an increase of 23 per cent from the 2024 festive season.
According to NTSA, the aim of the training and reform initiatives is to improve safety and professionalism among PSV operators as the country gears up for yet another busy season.
