The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has ordered a mandatory retest for drivers caught breaking traffic rules, following a viral video showing a Tahmeed bus dangerously overtaking passengers on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
In a Thursday statement, NTSA announced it traced the driver through the SACCO and directed him to retake the driving test, while urging Kenyans to report any cases of reckless driving.
"We contacted the SACCO, and the driver will undergo a retest today. Report any instances of reckless driving on our roads by providing details such as the vehicle's registration number, the location of the incident, and the date and time. We assure you that necessary action will be taken promptly," NTSA stated.
The video sparked outrage on social media, with many Kenyans condemning what appeared to be an overtaking race between the bus and another truck reportedly carrying muguka.
The bus company initially sought to absolve itself, defending the driver, despite the condemnation from Kenyans, a plea that the safety authority did not heed.
"There is a video currently circulating online alleging that one of our buses was being driven carelessly. We would like to clarify the facts. In the video, our bus is clearly within its correct lane and fully compliant with road safety rules," the company said in response.
At the same time, NTSA also disclosed that it had taken action against another PSV spotted driving recklessly from Kakamega to Nairobi.
"The driver underwent a retest yesterday and failed. He will be required to enrol in a licensed driving school for training before he is eligible to book and sit for a driving test. Only after passing the test will he qualify to acquire a driving license," the authority added.
In November last year, NTSA rolled out new measures to curb road carnage, including mandatory retests for drivers flagged through enforcement operations and the NTSA Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS) to verify their competence on the roads.
Launched in 2023, the IRSMS is a key tool in NTSA’s festive season strategy. The digital platform monitors vehicles, including PSVs and commercial fleets, tracking speed, driver behaviour, braking patterns, and route compliance.
The system automatically sends alerts for violations such as reckless overtaking and speeding.
Drivers flagged through these alerts can be targeted for retraining and may even lose their licences, strengthening NTSA’s efforts to improve road safety nationwide.
