The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) wants all boda boda riders carrying schoolchildren to wear protective gear in new sweeping changes to protect children.
According to the Draft Traffic (School Transport) Rules 2025, the Authority is mandating all students carried on a motorcycle not to have any hand luggage.
“All luggage should be carried in the carrier or a backpack,” reads part of the proposed new laws.
According to the proposal, a boda boda rider or any other motorcycle-carrying schoolchildren should not carry any other luggage unless inside a carrier when transporting schoolchildren.
Anyone caught contravening this proposed law faces a Ksh20,000 or six-month jail term or both. "A person who contravenes any provision of these Rules commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Twenty Thousand Shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both."
This is part of the proposed laws seeking to improve the safety of children when on their daily commute to and from school.
The draft proposal also wants to make it mandatory for school transport providers to obtain an annual license from NTSA, and each vehicle must also have a separate school vehicle road license.
“Be fitted with functional safety belts designed to be used by children as per applicable standard,” adds the proposed laws.
Furthermore, NTSA wants all school vehicles to undergo annual inspections and maintain at least third-party insurance.
The proposal also seeks to introduce changes for elementary school transport providers, who will now be required to have a dedicated school vehicle attendant.
“For elementary school transport providers, there shall be employed a school vehicle attendant for each vehicle,” reads part of the proposal.
Also, all school buses must have stop signal arms, flashing red lights, and clear cautionary messages, such as "DO NOT PASS WHEN RED LIGHTS ARE FLASHING."
The proposal is also introducing all school vehicles that must be fitted with a vehicular telematics system, including a passenger-facing camera, to improve monitoring and compliance.
