The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has pulled the handbrake on 62 public service vehicle (PSV) drivers just days before the peak of the December travel frenzy. In a decisive move announced Tuesday, the regulator suspended licenses across six major transport operators, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to the annual carnage that plagues Kenyan roads during the festive season.

This is not a routine administrative exercise; it is a preemptive strike. With thousands of families preparing to travel upcountry, the NTSA’s latest compliance assessment has exposed deep rot in some of the country’s most popular fleets. The message to the transport sector is clear: compliance is no longer optional, and the cost of negligence will be paid in lost revenue.

The Blacklist: Who Got Hit?

The crackdown targeted specific operators where safety breaches had become systemic. Tahmeed Express Limited, a giant in the long-distance bus sector, took the heaviest blow with 23 drivers suspended. For a company that ferries thousands of Kenyans between Nairobi and the Coast daily, this represents a significant operational disruption.

Latema Travellers Bus and Safari Company followed with 13 drivers grounded. The suspensions were not random; they resulted from a rigorous audit that flagged multiple violations ranging from speeding to tampering with speed governors.

The full list of affected operators includes:

• Tahmeed Express Limited: 23 drivers suspended
• Latema Travellers Bus and Safari Company: 13 drivers suspended
• Meru Nissan Operators Sacco: 10 drivers suspended
• MTrans Sacco Limited: 7 drivers suspended
• Moline Prestige Services Shuttle Limited: 6 drivers suspended
• Enabled Mashariki Investment Limited: 3 drivers suspended

Digital Eyes: The IRSMS Factor

Unlike previous years where enforcement relied heavily on physical roadblocks, the NTSA is now leveraging technology to catch offenders. The authority cited data from its Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS)—a digital platform that monitors speed, braking patterns, and route compliance in real-time.

"Drivers flagged via IRSMS will be required to re-sit driving assessments to confirm their competence," stated NTSA Director General Angela Wanjira. She emphasized that the suspended drivers would not be allowed back behind the wheel until they pass mandatory re-testing. Furthermore, the affected Saccos must now organize road safety awareness training for their entire workforce and present selected vehicles for fresh inspection.

A Bloody Year on the Roads

The urgency of this crackdown is justified by grim statistics. Between January 1 and October 22, 2025, road accidents claimed 3,890 lives—an increase from the 3,805 deaths recorded during the same period in 2024. The data paints a worrying picture of vulnerability:

• Motorcyclists: 1,000 fatalities
• Pillion Passengers: 378 fatalities
• Drivers: 351 fatalities
• Cyclists: 57 fatalities

For the average Kenyan commuter, these suspensions may mean longer wait times at booking offices and potentially higher fares as supply tightens. However, the trade-off is a safer journey home. As the festive season kicks into high gear, the NTSA has warned that this is just the beginning, with more operators currently under scrutiny.

"This crackdown is not about punishment alone—it's about ensuring that every driver on our roads during the festive season is alert, compliant, and safe," Wanjira added.