Why Kenyan Parents Could Soon Pay More for School Transport Under New NTSA Rules

Parents across Kenya could soon face higher school transport costs if new vehicle inspection rules proposed by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) are implemented in their current form.

The Traffic School Transport Rules and the Traffic Motor Vehicle Inspection Rules, 2026, have come under Senate review after the Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) warned that the regulations could increase the cost of running school transport services and eventually push those expenses onto parents.

Appearing before the Senate Committee on Transport on May 29, KPSA Chief Executive Officer Rose Eteye said the regulations would place additional logistical and financial obligations on private schools.

“These regulations in their current form place a heavy logistical and financial burden on private schools, and if implemented without adjustment, they will increase transport fees for families nationwide, immediately,” stated Rose Eteye.

The association told senators that schools, particularly those located far from existing inspection facilities, could be forced to spend more money transporting vehicles for mandatory inspections, a cost that may ultimately be reflected in school transport charges.

To address the challenge, KPSA urged the government and NTSA to expand access to inspection services.

“The Government and NTSA should establish more decentralised inspection centres or mobile inspection units to reduce logistical challenges faced by schools in remote regions,” said Miss Eteye.

The association also called for a review of inspection fees to prevent the additional costs from being passed on to families.

“Inspection fees for school transport vehicles should also be reviewed or subsidised to avoid passing excessive costs to parents through increased transport charges.”

KPSA President Rosebella Ojiambo and Eteye further proposed a phased implementation of the regulations to give schools more time to comply with the new requirements without disrupting operations.

The proposals were presented before the Senate Committee on Transport chaired by Tharaka Nithi Senator Mwenda Gataya during a session attended by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir.

The committee examined four legal notices covering school transport, motor vehicle inspections, drink-driving regulations and commercial vehicle operations.

CS Chirchir urged senators to approve the regulations, arguing that they are necessary to improve road safety across the country.

Members of the committee, on the other hand, questioned various aspects of the proposed rules, citing issues such as public participation, transition timelines, penalties and licensing procedures.

The Kenya Motorists Association (KMA), through its representative Peter Murima, also called for sufficient transition periods and public awareness before enforcement begins.

The debate now places parents, schools and transport operators at the centre of a policy discussion that could directly affect the cost of getting children to and from school.

If the regulations proceed without amendments, parents may soon find themselves paying more for school transport as institutions seek to recover the extra costs associated with vehicle inspections and compliance requirements.