The Kenyan government has unveiled sweeping new traffic regulations that promise to significantly transform vehicle inspection, road safety enforcement, and operational standards across the country.
The proposals, announced by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, are encapsulated in a series of draft legal frameworks designed to tighten oversight and reduce the number of unroadworthy vehicles on Kenyan roads.
At the heart of the reforms are the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2025, which will introduce mandatory periodic inspections for all motor vehicles older than four years.
This includes private vehicles, commercial fleets, public service vehicles (PSVs), and school transport vehicles. Inspections will be conducted at approved government or licensed private testing centres, with each vehicle required to pass stringent mechanical and safety checks to remain roadworthy.
Vehicles will also face inspection at critical points in their lifecycle—including pre-registration, post-accident assessments, and during change-of-ownership or modification procedures.
Any vehicle that successfully passes inspection will be issued a compliance sticker, which must be displayed and will be subject to roadside verification by enforcement officers.
To strengthen enforcement, the government will accredit private vehicle inspection centres and regulate individual inspectors, with tough oversight mechanisms introduced to curb corruption and ensure accuracy in test reporting.
Penalties for non-compliance will include heavy fines, vehicle impoundment, and possible suspension of driving licences, signaling a renewed push to restore discipline on Kenya’s roads.
Complementing the inspection reforms are the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2025, which set out minimum safety and operational standards for vehicles used to transport schoolchildren.
The new rules will require all school buses to be equipped with seat belts, fire extinguishers, and telematics systems for real-time monitoring.
Regulations will also govern driver qualifications, boarding protocols, operating hours, and prohibit unauthorised use of school transport vehicles. School buses will be subject to clear signage, colour coding, and mandatory markings for identification.
In a bid to tackle one of the country’s most persistent road safety issues, the government has also drafted the Traffic (Drink Driving) Rules, 2025.
These regulations set legal alcohol limits and introduce official procedures for testing drivers using breathalysers, blood, and urine samples.
Drivers who refuse to provide specimens or who are repeat offenders will face increased penalties, including potential licence suspension or revocation. Courts will also be empowered to admit evidence from certified testing devices.
Separately, the government is finalising the National Transport and Safety (Operation of Commercial Vehicles) Regulations, 2025, which will introduce targeted controls on the logistics and PSV sectors.
These rules will address fatigue and safety lapses by requiring electronic logging of driver work hours, cargo tracking, and stricter scheduling protocols to reduce accident risks.
The proposed regulations reflect a growing urgency by the state to address the alarming rates of road accidents in the country, improve enforcement mechanisms, and align transport safety standards with international best practices.
Stakeholders and members of the public are expected to be invited for consultations before the rules are formally gazetted.
