The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has summoned nine public service vehicle operators after flagging serious safety concerns in their operations across the country.The Authority made the announcement through a statement issued on Monday, August 31, listing the companies required to respond to these concerns."In exercising its powers, the Authority has summoned a number of public service vehicle operators after observing serious safety concerns," NTSA stated.Among those named is Moyalé Raha Transporter's Company Limited, which has been given a slightly earlier date of September 3 to appear.The remaining eight operators are expected to show up before NTSA on September 8, as directed in the same notice.They include Etams Classic Limited, Eastern Link Travellers Company Limited, and Manchester Travellers Coach Limited, all mentioned in the NTSA's list of summoned firms.On the list also includes Lake Naivasha Mai-Mahiu Line Service Limited and Sabaki Travellers Saving and Credit Co-operative Society Limited.Lumasa County Sacco, Bluemarks Shuttles Sacco Limited, and Nyamira Luxury Express Company Limited complete the list of nine operators facing scrutiny.The aforementioned saccos mostly operate outside Nairobi City, ferrying travellers to and from various counties across the country on a daily basis.Long-distance buses often violate traffic laws. Drivers often speed to meet tight schedules, while operators overload buses with excess passengers and luggage. Fatigued drivers also skip mandatory rest breaks, working beyond legal hours, raising accident risks.Additionally, dangerous overtaking on narrow, winding highways adds further risk, along with poorly maintained buses, with worn tyres, faulty brakes, or broken lights, which compounds the danger, while passengers rarely wear seatbelts and operators fail to enforce the rule.NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa reported an 11 per cent rise in road traffic deaths, with 2,150 lives lost between January and June 2026. Pedestrians suffered the highest fatalities at around 836, followed by motorcyclists and passengers.Kiambu, Nairobi, and Nakuru remain the worst-hit counties due to heavy traffic and rapid urbanization. NTSA estimates road crashes cost Kenya roughly 5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually through healthcare expenses, property damage, and lost productivity.Additionally, the NTSA’s July 2026 Road Safety Status Report shows that the weekends, particularly from Friday to Sunday, accounted for more than half of all road accidents recorded during the month, indicating that weekends are the most dangerous period to travel, where travellers mostly travel long distances to their families.
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