More than 4,000 public transport workers are set to receive free training as Kenya steps up efforts to improve safety and professionalism in the matatu and PSV sector.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) began the programme on Monday, September 21, with the first groups training in Taita Taveta, Mombasa and Garissa.
The four-day sessions will bring together PSV drivers, SACCO managers, supervisors and operators. The programme will later expand to other parts of the country.
NTSA said the training is part of wider reforms intended to move public transport towards more organised and professionally managed operations.
The authority said drivers and operators should be viewed as partners in improving road safety.
“The programme is designed to treat drivers and operators as partners in road safety,” NTSA said.
The training will cover defensive driving, identifying and preventing hazards, vehicle safety checks and passenger care. Participants will also be taught about compliance with traffic laws and the management of PSV businesses.
NTSA said the programme will address both drivers and the organisations that employ them. It said safety on the roads depends not only on how vehicles are driven, but also on how they are maintained and managed.
Selected participants will act as road safety champions within their SACCOs and companies after completing the training. They will be expected to help maintain the practices introduced during the programme.
The initiative will be rolled out in four stages: design and baseline assessment, a pilot phase, national expansion, and long-term institutionalisation.
NTSA also plans to work with training institutions to develop a Professional Drivers Certification and a specialised course in Public Transport Management.
The programme comes as the country approaches the festive season, when passenger numbers and pressure on public transport services typically increase.
The training forms part of NTSA’s broader road-safety mandate. The authority’s current regulatory work also includes proposed requirements covering commercial vehicle operators, qualified drivers, vehicle maintenance and road-safety awareness.
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