NTSA Makes Driver Refresher Training Mandatory From July
Kenyan motorists are about to face a new compliance requirement. Specifically, the National Transport and Safety Authority Director General Nashon Kondiwa has officially announced mandatory refresher training for regular drivers starting in July 2026. Furthermore, the directive aims to curb rising road carnage, which has seen fatalities increase by 11 percent this year.
Who This Affects
The directive targets a broad group of road users. Specifically, drivers who are continuously or regularly on the road will be required to undergo this refresher training.
Therefore, this is not limited to professional or commercial drivers alone.
Why NTSA Is Making This Change
The core objective centres on continuous learning. Specifically, the programme aims to establish continuous professional development for motorists, moving away from relying solely on skills learned during initial driving school training.
Consequently, NTSA is treating driving competency as an ongoing requirement rather than a one-time achievement.
Following Global Models
Kenya is not inventing this approach from scratch. Specifically, the country is emulating models from Singapore and European Union countries, where ongoing driver retraining is already mandatory.
Therefore, this positions Kenya’s road safety framework closer to international best practice.
The Numbers Behind the Urgency
The statistics paint a troubling picture. Specifically, Kenya has recorded 2,150 road fatalities so far this year.
Consequently, this sharp rise has pushed authorities toward more aggressive intervention measures.
Part of a Bigger Safety Push
This training requirement is just one piece of a larger reform package. Specifically, stricter public-private partnership inspection rules for vehicles older than four years are also slated for rollout.
Additionally, NTSA is introducing an updated electronic instant fines framework to bypass court appearances for minor traffic violations. Furthermore, mandatory face-to-face compliance training has already begun for government vehicle operators.
