Kisii County school transport providers are taking part in a free motor vehicle inspection clinic organised by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) at Cardinal Otunga High School in Mosocho.

Confirming the development via their social media statement on Friday, August 22, 2025, NTSA said the exercise is part of its ongoing “Operation Watoto Wafike Salama” campaign, which seeks to enhance the safety of learners by ensuring that school transport vehicles, including buses and vans, are roadworthy and fully compliant with safety regulations.

According to NTSA, the inspections focus on critical vehicle components such as brakes, tires, lights, and seat belts, which play a central role in guaranteeing safe travel for school children.

The campaign, which also emphasises the importance of regular maintenance and adherence to safety standards, is expected to reduce risks associated with poorly maintained school vehicles.

”The initiative is part of the “Operation Watoto Wafike Salama” campaign that aims to enhance the safety of children by ensuring school transport vehicles, such as buses and vans, are roadworthy and compliant with safety standards. The campaign promotes safe transportation for students by verifying the condition of critical vehicle components like brakes, tyres, lights, and seat belts, among others,” NTSA noted in its statement on Friday, August 22, 2025..

Nationwide initiative

The agency has been rolling out similar inspection clinics across different counties, urging all school administrators and transport providers to prioritise road safety as schools reopen. The move has been cited as a step in the right direction in reducing accidents involving school vehicles and instilling confidence in the safety of learners on Kenyan roads.

The “Watoto Wafike Salama” campaign continues to align with NTSA’s broader #UsalamaBarabarani initiative, which promotes road safety awareness and compliance across the country.

This initiative comes days after a school bus involved in a fatal road accident claimed the lives of over 20 members of the same family in Kisumu County. Meanwhile, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) on Saturday, August 16, 2025, initiated plans to modify the Coptic Roundabout in Mamboleo along the Kisumu-Kakamega highway following cases of road accidents in the area, with the latest claiming 26 lives.