The Transport Cabinet Secretary, Davis Chirchir, has published a new set of traffic rules targeting motor vehicle inspections, school transport, drunk driving, and the operation of commercial vehicles.
- •Vehicles older than four years, particularly public service vehicles (PSVs), commercial vehicles, and school buses- will now require mandatory inspections.
- •The proposals also call for inspection during critical stages such as pre-registration, post-accident assessment, or when significant changes are made to vehicle particulars.
- •While the provisions mostly reinforce existing laws, they signal a stronger commitment to enforcement and procedural clarity in areas where implementation has long been inconsistent such as the procedures for re-registering salvaged vehicles after inspection.
To support implementation, the new regulations outline a licensing framework for private vehicle testing centers and individual inspectors. This is likely to ease the load on government-run facilities, offering more accessible options for compliance across the country.
Beyond general vehicle inspection, a significant portion of the traffic rules focus on regulating school transport. All school vehicles will be required to meet safety standards, including installation of seat belts, fire extinguishers, and telematic systems.
Operators must obtain specific licenses, and both drivers and attendants will be held to stricter qualification and conduct requirements. Using school buses for private purposes without a temporary license will be prohibited, and all such vehicles must follow uniform standards for markings, signage, and colour coding.
Equally, the regulations aim to tighten the legal framework around drunk driving. They specify alcohol limits for drivers and outline procedures for testing using breathalysers, blood, or urine samples. Refusal to cooperate with testing will itself be an offence, and a clear process has been set for how test results may be admitted in court. Repeat offenders will face escalating penalties, including license suspension or revocation.
While these proposed traffic rules do not introduce fundamentally new ideas, they reflect a shift toward better enforcement and procedural clarity. Kenya’s motorists and other road users have long suffered not from the absence of rules, but from weak implementation and a lack of systemic accountability.
