The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has launched a nationwide capacity-building programme targeting public service vehicle (PSV) drivers, operators, SACCO managers and supervisors as part of wider reforms in Kenya’s public transport sector. The programme began on Monday, September 21, with the first four-day training sessions held in Voi, Taita Taveta County, Mombasa and Garissa. More than 4,000 drivers, operators, SACCO managers and supervisors are expected to undergo training and certification under the programme. The training is being offered free of charge to participating drivers and operators. NTSA said the programme is intended to move the PSV sector away from informal, passenger-focused operations towards professionally managed businesses with stronger safety, compliance and financial management standards.
“The reforms aim to shift the sector from informal, passenger-chasing operations to professionally managed, safety-oriented, financially sustainable and compliant transport businesses,” NTSA said.
The authority said it is targeting both drivers and the organisations that employ or manage them, arguing that improving road safety requires changes at both the individual and organisational levels.
“Both play critical roles in advancing a safety culture and reducing preventable crashes linked to behavioural, vehicular, and operational factors,” NTSA said.
The driver-focused training covers defensive driving, hazard perception, vehicle safety checks, passenger care, emergency response and compliance with traffic laws. Participants will also be trained on professional conduct, communication, driver wellness, fuel efficiency, digital systems and smooth-driving practices. An integrated competency assessment will be used to identify safety gaps and determine areas requiring corrective action. For PSV operators, SACCO managers and supervisors, the programme covers strategic leadership, governance, financial performance, fleet management, customer service, technology and regulatory compliance. Participants will also develop 90-day operator improvement plans intended to translate the training into practical changes within their respective organisations.
NTSA said drivers and operators who complete the programme will serve as road safety champions within their SACCOs and transport companies, helping maintain the practices introduced during the training. The authority said the initial sessions form part of a pilot phase before the programme is expanded to additional counties. NTSA plans to prioritise high-risk corridors and high-volume routes, with information gathered during the pilot expected to help refine the training curriculum and determine how trainers are deployed during the wider rollout. A Training of Trainers programme has already been completed to prepare instructors for the nationwide implementation. The timing of the initial training was also deliberate, with NTSA scheduling the pilot ahead of the festive season when passenger numbers and commercial pressure on PSV operators typically increase.
Beyond the immediate training, NTSA said it plans to work with training institutions to develop professional courses in Public Transport Management and Professional Drivers Certification. The authority also intends to use the programme to generate practical input into the review of the PSV (Operations) Regulations, 2014, as well as the wider licensing framework. Other proposed reforms include operator consolidation, contract-based service delivery and integrated fare systems. NTSA said the broader programme is designed to strengthen cooperation between regulators and the public transport industry while improving compliance with traffic laws, vehicle roadworthiness, insurance and passenger-safety requirements.
“The programme is designed to treat drivers and operators as partners in road safety,” the authority said.
The training will progressively be expanded across the country following the pilot phase, with NTSA expected to use the findings from the initial cohorts to guide the national rollout.