AfriPulse
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has clarified that mandatory physical fitness tests are for public service vehicle (PSV) and commercial drivers and not all drivers.
The Authority, in a clarification on Wednesday, added that the exercise, expected to be conducted nationwide, has not yet been launched, despite widespread public belief that the initiative had already begun.
NTSA stated that although Section 105A of the Traffic Act (Cap 403) provides for physical fitness requirements, the tests are yet to be formally implemented at a national level.
The clarification follows a health initiative held in Nairobi on January 27, which sparked speculation that the Authority had begun enforcing the medical assessment requirement of the Act.
NTSA Nakuru team leads joint operations at Salgaa along the Nakuru -Eldoret highway on December 4, 2025.
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NTSA
NTSA explained that the event was not an official rollout but a voluntary health drive.
According to the Authority, the Nairobi initiative led by ENA Coach in partnership with its medical partners was aimed at promoting driver wellness rather than enforcing compliance with physical fitness requirements for drivers.
NTSA noted that similar health screening drives have been conducted previously across the country, supported by various public transport operators, school transport providers, and both public and private institutions.
The authority says the mandatory national programme is awaiting a national framework but has conducted health checks in conjunction with partners.
NTSA revealed it was working closely with the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) to develop a National Framework for Medical Assessment to guide the standardised examination of drivers’ physical fitness.
Once finalised, the framework is expected to standardise medical assessments for drivers, ensuring system-wide consistency and compliance with occupational health standards.
NTSA assured motorists, transport operators, and the general public that any official rollout of physical fitness tests will be communicated through a formal Public Notice and the Authority’s verified communication channels.
The clarification came hours after the NTSA was thought to have launched the first phase of a mandatory nationwide programme in Nairobi, testing the eyesight of drivers in a bid to curb road fatalities.
Scenes from an accident around Kikopey on Monday, January 19 2026.
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Ngugi wa karanja mcee
Source: Kenyans.co.ke | Read the Full Story…
