Senate Annuls NTSA School Transport, Vehicle Inspection & Commercial Vehicle Regulations

Thousands of motorists across the country can breathe a sigh of relief after the Senate annulled three controversial National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) traffic regulations, effectively preventing their enforcement.

The decision affects the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026, the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026, and the National Transport and Safety Authority (Operation of Commercial Vehicles) Regulations, 2026, all of which had sparked concern among motorists and transport operators.

The Senate decided after adopting a report by the Select Committee on Delegated Legislation, which recommended that the three statutory instruments be annulled under Section 18 of the Statutory Instruments Act.

The committee found that the regulations should not remain in force, paving the way for their formal cancellation by the House.

The now-cancelled rules had introduced sweeping changes to Kenya's transport sector, including stricter requirements for school vehicles, revised vehicle inspection rules, and new operational standards for commercial vehicles.

Among the notable changes was the introduction of annual inspections for all vehicles, including private cars older than four years, at a cost of between Ksh1000 and Ksh2000.

At the time, NTSA argued that the move was aimed at ensuring that only roadworthy vehicles were in operation to reduce road crashes and hold transport providers accountable for non-compliance.

NTSA’s implementation of the new regulations had sparked concern among motorists and transport operators, with many arguing that some of the requirements would increase operational costs.

The cancellation now means the affected regulations can no longer be enforced, providing relief to drivers, matatu operators, school transport providers and commercial vehicle owners.

However, the latest development paves the way for the government to review the regulations and address the concerns raised before introducing any revised rules through the approval process.