Kenyans, including motorists and matatu operators, have been given 14 days to submit their views on the proposed legislation.
The Senate Standing Committee on Roads and Transportation on Thursday, September 24, 2026, invited members of the public to submit written comments on the National Transport and Safety Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Bill seeks to amend the NTSA Act by introducing a legal framework for regulating companies and individuals responsible for assessing whether PSV bodies meet the required technical and safety standards.
Under the proposed changes, NTSA would be given the authority to register and license vehicle inspectors responsible for carrying out conformity assessments on public service vehicles.
At present, the Kenya Association of Bus Manufacturers (KABM) is involved in assessing the safety and conformity of PSVs. Parliament has raised concerns that the current arrangement could create a conflict of interest.
If enacted, the proposed law would require anyone conducting PSV conformity assessments to first obtain a licence from NTSA.
The authority would also have to establish that an assessor seeking a licence has no involvement in the design, manufacture, supply, installation, purchase, ownership or maintenance of the vehicles they are expected to inspect.
The Bill further proposes that NTSA establish clear standards and procedures for conducting conformity assessments. It would also allow the authority to designate licensed assessors to inspect public service vehicles after every three years.
In addition, NTSA would be responsible for carrying out periodic audits of licensed assessors to determine whether they are complying with the law and the required standards.
According to the proposed legislation, there is currently no specific legal framework governing the assessment of public service vehicles. The Bill seeks to address this gap by establishing clear rules on how PSVs should be assessed and approved.
The Senate committee has invited Kenyans, particularly motorists and matatu operators, to submit their views on the Bill by Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 5pm.
The committee said the public participation exercise is required under Standing Order 145(5) of the Senate Standing Orders, which requires the Senate to consider views and recommendations from members of the public when considering legislation.
Members of the public wishing to participate can submit their written views to the Clerk of the Senate at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi or send their submissions via email.
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