Government Issues New Strict Guidelines for School Buses, Affecting Parents and Institutions
The government has announced fresh directives targeting schools and parents over the use of school buses outside approved hours.
Starting immediately, any school or parent allowing school buses to pick up learners before 6:00 am or drop them off after 6:00 pm risks facing serious consequences from the Ministry of Education.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 6, Basic Education Permanent Secretary Julius Bitok cautioned that many schools have continued operating their buses beyond the approved hours, even though the rules restricting school transport times are still active.
“Our regulations regarding school buses are very clear,” said PS Bitok. “According to the Basic Education guidelines, no school bus should be on the road before 6:00 am or after 6:00 pm.”
He emphasized that this rule applies to all schools in the country, whether they are public or privately owned. Bitok also warned that the government will take strict action against those who fail to comply.
“I want to urge all our drivers, school administrators, and stakeholders to follow the law. This is a government policy, and everyone is expected to obey it,” he added.
To ensure compliance, the Ministry of Education has instructed county directors of education to step up their efforts and closely monitor schools and bus operators. These officials will be responsible for identifying and cracking down on institutions that violate the regulations.
The 6:00 am to 6:00 pm school transport rule was introduced back in 2018 after a series of tragic accidents involving school buses. One of the deadliest accidents occurred in Mwingi, where 10 students lost their lives in a night-time bus crash.
In response, then-Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i implemented a range of safety measures. These included mandatory yellow paint for all school buses and a strict ban on any school-related travel outside the designated times.
In addition, the Ministry was expected to outline how the Traffic Amendment Act 2017—passed to improve school transport safety—would be fully enforced. However, over the years, implementation of these rules has been inconsistent, and enforcement has remained a challenge.
The Traffic Amendment Act revised key parts of the older Traffic Act (Cap 403), introducing new safety standards for school buses. Some of the requirements include hiring drivers with at least five years of experience in transporting students.
These drivers also need to undergo special vetting and training to ensure they are capable of handling the safety needs of school-going children.
Although enforcement of the law has been patchy in the past, PS Bitok made it clear that the directive is still in full effect. He urged education officials at the county level to take stronger action to ensure compliance.
Since moving students outside the allowed hours is a violation of national safety regulations, county education directors have the authority to work together with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and local police.
They may stop and detain any school bus found operating illegally or launch investigations into the schools and drivers involved.
The renewed push by the Ministry of Education aims to improve student safety and ensure that schools take full responsibility for adhering to transport regulations, especially during early mornings and late evenings.
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