This archive report was first published on 31 July 2019.
As part of its efforts to improve road safety in Kenya, the government has deregistered 51 percent of driving schools that failed to meet the required standards in a recent revalidation exercise.
Speaking at the launch of the National Transport Reforms Conference at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) headquarters in Nairobi on Wednesday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang'i outlined the government's plans to implement far-reaching reforms in the transport sector as outlined in the National Road Safety Action Plan 2019–2023.
Dr. Matiang'i noted that a defective driver training, testing, and licensing system has been a major causal factor of road accidents, which has been exacerbated by the proliferation of backstreet driving schools in the country.
He warned that the government will not compromise on the standards and quality of driver training, adding that the recent revalidation exercise has yielded a 50 percent reduction in road fatalities.
"This is not only a matter of government policy but also a mission anchored on dictates of conscience," Dr. Matiang'i said. "No more finger-pointing among stakeholders while Kenyans continue losing their lives on the roads."
Other reforms proposed by the government include the establishment of an integrated speed governors system, the introduction of a new standard for road speed limiters, and a mandatory retraining and retesting process for PSV and commercial service drivers.
