NTSA impounds overloaded matatus in heightened crackdown
By Nancy Marende, December 19, 2025The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has impounded several public service vehicles (PSVs) for overloading during enforcement operations carried out in Molo and parts of Kericho.
In a statement on Friday, December 19, 2025, the authority stated that the crackdown targeted vehicles violating passenger capacity regulations, noting that overloading remains a significant contributor to road crashes and fatalities.
NTSA officers flagged down and impounded PSVs found carrying excess passengers, including those seated in improvised spaces commonly referred to as sambaza.
“In the event of a crash, unsecured passengers sitting on ‘sambaza’ are at greater risk of ejection,” NTSA revealed.
Further, the authority has cautioned passengers against boarding overloaded vehicles, stressing that safety is a shared responsibility between commuters and public transport operators.
“Kwa usalama wako, do not board an overloaded vehicle.”
The crackdown
In a press briefing on Sunday, November 16, 2025, during the mark of World Accident Day, acting NTSA Director General Angela Wanjira announced a raft of new measures to curb accidents during the festive season.
“Among the measures we will set to undertake going forward is subjecting drivers who were flagged through enforcement initiatives and the NTSA Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS) to mandatory re-testing to confirm their competency on the road,” she said.
Launched in 2023, the IRSMS is central to NTSA’s festive season strategy, as it is a digital platform that monitors vehicles, including PSVs and commercial fleets.
The system tracks speed, the driver’s behaviour, braking patterns, and route compliance. Afterwards, it sends alerts when violations such as reckless overtaking and speeding occur.
Since the system also analyses violations and generates alerts for those who breach safety standards, the NTSA can target drivers for retraining to improve overall road safety.
Wanjira emphasised that the authority intended to enforce real-time IRSMS transmission, ensuring PSVs and commercial fleets remain under non-stop safety monitoring.
During the festive season, drivers flagged by the system will risk losing their licences as they will be subjected to corrective measures.
In addition to retesting rogue drivers, NTSA is set to expand its famed Usalama Barabarani programme, which focuses on seatbelt use, managing driver fatigue, and raising awareness of responsible road practices.
Wanjira also announced that the NTSA would conduct pre-festive inspection clinics at bus termini in the run-up to the festive season, as most buses are expected to be in high demand with many Kenyans travelling to the countryside.