The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has tightened the net on rogue motorists, announcing that drivers whose licences are suspended will now be required to return to registered driving schools for retraining before they can get back on the road.
In a statement issued on Thursday, January 15, NTSA said it operates a centralised digital database that tracks all drivers whose licences have been suspended or revoked, effectively locking them out of public transport operations nationwide.
The clarification came amid growing public concern that drivers flagged for dangerous conduct could simply shift from one matatu SACCO to another and continue working unchecked.
“A step in the right direction, but you need a central database of suspended, unqualified drivers and conductors. Otherwise, they can easily join another SACCO and continue endangering lives,” one concerned Kenyan wrote online.
NTSA responded by assuring the public that such loopholes no longer exist.
“We have the database. Once a driving licence is suspended, the driver cannot join any SACCO. He or she must go back to a driving school to train afresh,” the Authority said.
According to NTSA, the system applies across the entire transport sector, meaning suspended drivers cannot seek refuge in private transport companies either. All driver records are digitally linked and easily accessible to employers conducting background checks.
“The information is automatically updated on the free NTSA mobile app. Further, driving licence records can be searched via the NTSA service portal,” the Authority explained.
The renewed focus on enforcement follows a recent incident that sparked nationwide outrage. On December 31, a viral video showed a matatu crew driving recklessly as the conductor forcefully pushed a young girl who was standing by the roadside.
The footage triggered public anger and renewed calls for tougher action against reckless drivers and conductors.
NTSA launched investigations into the incident, leading to the suspension of the driver’s licence after he failed a retest. Both the driver and the conductor were also disengaged by their SACCO.
“Both the driver and the conductor have been disengaged by the SACCO. The driver’s driving licence has also been suspended after he failed a retest,” NTSA confirmed.
The Authority says the measures are part of a broader push to restore discipline on Kenyan roads, protect pedestrians, and ensure that only properly trained and responsible drivers are allowed behind the wheel.
