The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has escalated road safety measures nationwide, particularly in the Coast region, in preparation for the August 2026 school holidays.

On July 27, 2026, the NTSA Mombasa Regional Office announced a collaboration with the Mombasa County Government and the National Police Service to conduct targeted road safety awareness campaigns at key bus parks. These initiatives include educating drivers and passengers, rigorous enforcement of Alcoblow breathalyser tests to deter drink-driving, and intensified compliance checks along major highways to ensure safer travel during the holiday season.

Passenger Responsibility Emphasized

NTSA has called on passengers to actively participate in road safety by reporting unsafe driving behaviors such as speeding, intoxication, fatigue, use of mobile phones while driving, dangerous overtaking, and lane indiscipline. The authority urged travellers to promptly alert drivers to reckless conduct and to report hazardous incidents involving children or other road users through emergency hotlines (999, 911, 112), St. John’s Ambulance, Kenya Red Cross, or the NTSA Incident Reporting Platform.

Legal Framework Strengthening

The reintroduction of Alcoblow testing follows the publication of draft regulations by the Ministry of Roads and Transport aimed at closing legal gaps that previously hindered breathalyser use. These proposals also mandate annual inspections for vehicles older than four years, including commercial, school, and public service vehicles, with additional checks after accidents or ownership changes. Licensing and compliance standards for private vehicle inspection centers are also included.

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir highlighted the reforms as vital for enhancing accountability and professionalism, especially in school transport safety. The draft School Transport Rules, 2025, further seek to ban hiring school buses for private use to address safety concerns.

Holiday Travel Safety Priorities

Building on prior enforcement efforts, such as random Alcoblow testing conducted in December 2025 along major routes like the Embu-Nairobi highway, NTSA warns that head-on collisions from lane indiscipline and unsafe overtaking remain leading causes of fatal crashes. Motorists are urged to drive cautiously, keep left, overtake safely, and prioritize the safety of children and all road users during the August holiday period.