The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on Friday, April 19, directed parents and guardians to ensure school buses used by their children undergo mandatory inspection.
NTSA in a statement noted the mandatory inspection was to confirm the viability of the school transport ahead of school reopening early next month.
Parents and guardians were urged to visit their children's schools to establish whether the vehicles complied with all the requirements of the Traffic Act.
NTSA noted the orders were in line with an earlier directive issued by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on the mandatory inspection of school vehicles.
“We urge all schools to comply with the directive to avoid any inconveniences to learners and parents/guardians as the 1st May 2024 deadline approaches,” NTSA noted.
According to the safety authority, as of Thursday, April 18, several schools had presented their vehicles for inspection to assess their mechanical soundness.
Another factor that was put into consideration during the inspection process was the assessment of the functionality of the speed limiters installed on vehicles.
On April 9, CS Murkomen introduced a raft of measures for school buses aimed at taming road carnage especially those involving school transport.
Murkomen in his draft regulations stated that school transport providers must have a valid comprehensive insurance cover and employ qualified drivers and school vehicle attendants.
Other recommendations included the installation of fire extinguishers on all school buses and the bus must be painted yellow code FFD800.
"All buses should have the vehicle printed with the words “School Bus” on both sides and the words 'Do not pass when red lights are flashing” at the rear in block letters at least 8 inches in black colour," read the draft regulation.
"The drivers will be in charge of the vehicle and students and will be responsible for the health, safety and welfare of each of them," the draft rule further stated.
