NTSA reaffirms time restrictions on school bus operations nationwide
By Aloys Michael, January 9, 2026School buses will now be restricted to operating only between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm, following a government directive aimed at curbing the surge in fatal road accidents involving learners.
The move is part of tougher road safety measures as authorities intensify efforts to protect schoolchildren.
In an update on Friday, January 9, 2026, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) announced the mandatory restriction, citing heightened safety and security risks during early morning and late evening hours.
“School buses are not permitted to operate before 6 am or after 6 pm keep learners safe. Early morning and late evening travel increases risks,” NTSA wrote on X.
The decision also comes amid a worsening road safety crisis, with the National Police Service reporting at least 31 deaths in just the first six days of January 2026.
The new operating window aims to keep school transport off the roads during the most dangerous hours when visibility is poor and driver fatigue is high.
Between late December 2025 and January 6, 2026, more than 40 people lost their lives in major road accidents across the country.
Tackling the road accident menace
The carnage has been particularly severe on major highways, with multiple high-casualty crashes recorded in quick succession.
On January 5, 2025, nine people, including two children, died in a pre-dawn crash involving a Greenline bus and a Nissan matatu on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
Just a day later, six people were killed and 46 others injured when a Uwezo Sacco bus collided with a trailer on the Londiani-Muhoroni road in Kericho County.
NTSA recorded 4,458 road deaths in 2025, up from 4,311 in 2024, reflecting a worrying upward trend.
The transport authority has attributed most crashes to preventable human error, including reckless driving, speeding, driver fatigue, and drunk driving.
The government has called on the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with authorities by reporting cases of reckless driving to help curb dangerous behaviour on the roads.
Meanwhile, a nationwide crackdown on traffic violations is now underway, with authorities focusing on black spots, speeding, and drunk driving.
NTSA has also begun mandating retests for drivers caught violating traffic rules as part of the heightened enforcement measures.