Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a further three-month suspension of the retesting of commercial and public service vehicle (PSV) drivers. This extension, as stated by Murkomen, allows the ministry additional time to engage with stakeholders and establish a consensus on the retesting process.

The official notice, released on Friday, October 6, reads, "This is to inform the public that the suspension of retesting for drivers holding licenses with class endorsement(s); B3, D1, D2, D3, C, C1, CE, and CD, has been extended for a period of 3 months, effective from the date of this notice."

Retesting for drivers had initially commenced earlier in the year following an April directive from the Transport CS. However, it was temporarily halted due to protests from various stakeholders. Matatu drivers and owners, in particular, had threatened to stage demonstrations if the government proceeded with mandatory retesting.

The initial suspension period was set to conclude in September, but with no consensus reached, drivers will now have to wait until the following year to determine the fate of the retesting requirement.

The primary goal behind the retesting initiative, led by Murkomen and transport officials, was to address the rising number of road accident fatalities.

Under Section 30(6) of the Traffic Act, driver retesting is a statutory obligation. According to Kenya's Traffic Act, drivers of public service and commercial vehicles are required to undergo a driving test every three years as a condition for license renewal (Section 39).

Furthermore, the retesting effort aligns with the United Nations General Assembly resolution from September 2020, focusing on enhancing global road safety—a resolution to which Kenya is a signatory. The UN's Road Safety Strategy seeks to guide UN bodies in promoting a fresh approach towards safer journeys, departing from traditional thinking.