As the festive season kicks off, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the National Police Service (NPS) have launched a tough crackdown on reckless driving and traffic violations.
These include 24-hour patrols on all major roads, the return of Alcoblow breathalyser tests, and the introduction of mobile courts to punish offenders.
Meanwhile, matatu operators and road safety agencies have expressed concern about an increase in reckless driving, driver fatigue, poorly maintained vehicles and general indiscipline on major highways, warning that the holiday period could result in a rise in preventable road incidents.
Police officers and officials from the National Transport and Safety Authority inspect vehicles at Salgaa area along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway on December 4, 2025 as part of a renewed effort to curb road accidents during the festive season.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
NTSA Director of Road Safety Andrew Kiplagat said improving road safety requires a collective commitment.
“Every stakeholder has a role, from ensuring vehicles are roadworthy to enforcing driver compliance,” he told a meeting of stakeholders in Nairobi last week.
Traffic Commandant Fredrick Ochieng’ outlined several police interventions, including 24-hour patrols on major highways, particularly at night, when most serious accidents occur. Officers will also use speed guns, breathalysers and mobile courts to apprehend and penalise offenders swiftly.
“This approach will curb bribery and guarantee instant justice for drivers who break the law,” he noted.
NTSA also emphasised the importance of properly functioning speed limiters in public service vehicles, citing malfunctioning devices as a significant cause of crashes. To promote compliance during the festive season, suppliers will offer PSV operators free rechecks.
The chief executive officer of the Federation of Public Transport Sector, Kushian Muchiri, announced that the sector is developing a digital platform to track drivers’ offences across different employers and vehicles.
“This system will help identify repeat offenders, enforce stricter penalties and improve driver behaviour,” he said.
Gitonga Kieru, chairman of the Speed Governor and Road Safety Association, added that commercial and PSV vehicles fitted with speed governors will receive free inspections during the festive period.
“This is a sector-wide initiative to enhance safety, not an individual effort,” he said.
The Matatu Sacco Owners Association noted that December typically sees a surge in long-distance travel, often accompanied by an increase in crashes due to unroadworthy vehicles and fatigued drivers. The association’s second deputy president, Salim Mbarak, stressed the need for strict adherence to safety protocols.
“This is the peak travel season. Every vehicle must be serviced and roadworthy, and operated by sober, well-rested drivers,” he said.
Police officers and officials from the National Transport and Safety Authority inspect vehicles at a roadblock in Lukenya, Machakos county on March 27, 2024.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
At the same time, NTSA announced that drivers arrested during enforcement operations will now be subject to mandatory re-testing. Acting Director-General Angela Wanjira said the stricter approach follows a 2.6 per cent increase in the number of people killed or injured in crashes this year.
The re-testing process will rely heavily on the Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS), a digital platform introduced in 2023 that monitors speed, braking, route adherence and dangerous overtaking among public service and commercial vehicles. The system flags violations in real time and automatically alerts enforcement teams.
“By analysing violations, we can identify risky behaviour early on and ensure that drivers undergo the necessary retraining,” she said.
On Tuesday, NTSA suspended the licences of 62 drivers from seven public transport companies after a compliance review revealed numerous safety violations. The affected drivers must undergo mandatory re-testing before their licences can be reinstated.
“This action follows a compliance assessment that revealed multiple violations and serious safety concerns,” NTSA said.
Road safety awareness training
In addition, the authority instructed the affected operators to conduct road safety awareness training for all drivers and present selected vehicles for inspection.
“The driver re-testing exercise is part of broader proactive measures aimed at ensuring every driver has the necessary skills and competencies to operate safely on our roads,” the authority added.
With more than 4,500 deaths already reported this year, NTSA and NPS have launched joint operations aimed at reducing the growing toll on Kenyan roads.
NTSA statistics underline the severity of the problem. Between January 1 and early December 2025, 4,458 people lost their lives in road accidents, compared with 4,311 fatalities recorded during the same period in 2024. Ms Wanjira said the authority will scale up joint operations with the police, shifting emphasis from reactive enforcement to proactive prevention.
“We intend to strengthen real-time monitoring, roadside checks, public sensitisation and collaboration with passengers themselves,” she said.
Police officers and officials from the National Transport and Safety Authority flag down vehicles at Lukenya, Machakos County during a crackdown on unroadworthy vehicles and drivers on March 27, 2024.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
Separately, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration has rolled out a comprehensive security plan to ensure a safe and peaceful festive season nationwide.
Measures include heightened surveillance, intensified patrols and a crackdown on crime, particularly in high-traffic public areas. The government is urging citizens to cooperate with law enforcement agencies to protect vulnerable communities.
The ministry acknowledged that crime rates often rise during the festive season, with increases in petty offences, home burglaries and traffic violations. Crowded areas such as shopping malls, open markets and transport hubs become prime targets for pickpocketing and muggings as holiday shoppers carry valuables.
Authorities have also raised concerns over a surge in home burglaries as families travel upcountry and leave homes unattended.
To coordinate nationwide operations, the government has activated the National Multi-Agency Command Centre, working alongside regional and county command hubs.
According to officials, the Kenya Defence Forces, the NPS, the Kenya Prisons Service, the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Forestry Service have deployed 10,317 officers nationwide.
Specialised units, including the all-female Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) Unit and undercover officers, have been deployed to reinforce surveillance in major towns and sensitive areas.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said all regional and county security and intelligence committees have been instructed to staff multi-agency command centres around the clock.
