Kenya: Senate Throws Out NTSA Regulations for Lack of Public Participation

What the report says

Kenya’s Senate has annulled three NTSA regulations after concluding they were introduced without adequate public participation. The move affects the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026; the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026; and the National Transport and Safety Authority (Operation of Commercial Vehicles) Regulations, 2026.

According to the Capital FM report distributed by AllAfrica, the regulations had been tabled before the Senate on June 10 and were later rejected when the chamber adopted the report of the Select Committee on Delegated Legislation on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The Senate said it was acting under the Statutory Instruments Act to annul the three legal notices.

The NTSA had developed the measures as part of broader road safety reforms. The school transport rules were meant to tighten standards for school buses, including safety equipment and telematics. The inspection rules would have set a framework for vehicle checks, with mandatory inspections for some vehicles older than four years. The commercial vehicle rules were intended to guide licensing, management and safe operation in that sector.

The report says the proposals faced public criticism over claims that the authority lacked a clear legal mandate and had not properly consulted stakeholders. The Senate’s decision is significant because it delays or blocks implementation of the new framework, at least for now, and highlights continued scrutiny of delegated legislation in Kenya.