NTSA plans automated driving tests and more inspection centres in new road safety push

Kenya is preparing to take more of the human element out of driver testing and vehicle inspections as the Government moves to expand automated systems under its medium-term road safety plan.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is expected to establish five new automated driver testing units and automate the theory section of driving tests, according to plans presented by the Ministry of Roads and Transport.

The Government also plans to establish five new vehicle inspection centres and upgrade five existing facilities between the 2027/28 and 2029/30 financial years.

The changes are part of a wider effort to make transport services more accessible while tightening road safety controls.

Driving tests to become more automated

Under the proposed reforms, the theory component of driver testing will be automated.

The move is intended to make the assessment process more consistent and reduce dependence on manual procedures.

The Government has also planned additional automated driver testing units as part of its medium-term programme.

The move comes as Kenya continues to digitise services offered by NTSA. The authority already provides more than 26 online services covering driving licences, vehicle registration, inspection and public service transport operations through its digital platforms.

For motorists and learner drivers, the bigger question will be whether automation makes the process faster and more transparent without creating new technical barriers for people who are less comfortable with digital services.

More inspection centres planned

The Government is also looking to expand the vehicle inspection network.

Five new inspection centres are planned, alongside the upgrading of five existing facilities.

This is significant as Kenya prepares to enforce tighter vehicle inspection requirements.

In May, the Ministry presented new transport and road safety regulations to the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation. The package included the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026, alongside regulations covering school transport, drink-driving and commercial service vehicles.

The ministry said the regulations were developed after public participation across all 47 counties and are aimed at reducing crashes, deaths and injuries while improving accountability in the transport sector.

Kenya has already been moving towards more frequent vehicle inspections. The new rules include mandatory inspections for private vehicles older than four years, while commercial, public service and school vehicles are subject to regular checks. The High Court cleared the way for implementation of the rules in April after a legal challenge.

The system is not starting from zero

The Government has previously invested in automated inspection facilities.

The Ministry's strategic plan lists Thika, Likoni, Kisumu, Eldoret, Machakos, Nakuru and Garissa among locations targeted for automated inspection facilities.

The Ministry has also said model inspection centres have been constructed at Thika and Likoni and that four testing lanes have progressed.

The latest plans therefore point to an expansion of a system already under development rather than the creation of an entirely new inspection framework.

Why the changes matter

Road safety remains the central justification for the reforms.

NTSA says it is pursuing a Safe System approach that combines enforcement, engineering, education and innovation to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Kenyan roads.

Automation could help make some assessments more standardised and reduce opportunities for inconsistent decision-making.

But technology alone will not solve Kenya's road safety problem.

The effectiveness of automated testing will depend on the quality of the equipment, reliable digital systems, trained staff and proper oversight.

The same applies to vehicle inspection.

More centres could reduce congestion and the distance motorists have to travel. But they will need to have enough capacity to cope with the number of vehicles requiring inspection.

Services to move closer to motorists

The Government also intends to operationalise 14 NTSA service points at Huduma Centres, bringing more services closer to the public.

The plan is part of a wider attempt to reduce the need for motorists to travel to NTSA offices for routine transactions.

NTSA already operates regional offices and inspection centres in several counties, including Thika, Nyeri, Meru, Embu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kericho, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Machakos, Voi, Mombasa and Garissa.

The authority's service portal has also brought several vehicle and driver services online.

A wider transport overhaul

The reforms extend beyond testing and inspection.

The Ministry says it is developing a Smart Transport Policy and intends to introduce an automated fare collection system covering different modes of public transport.

It is also pursuing implementation of the National Mobility Policy and reviewing the Transport Act as part of the medium-term road safety programme.

The Government has separately been tightening rules governing commercial vehicles, school transport and drink-driving.

Taken together, the measures point to a broader attempt to change how Kenya regulates drivers, vehicles and public transport.

But for motorists, the success of the reforms will ultimately be judged by what happens on the ground.

A driver should be able to book a test without unnecessary delays. A vehicle owner should be able to access an inspection centre without travelling unreasonable distances. And, most importantly, a vehicle that is unsafe should not be allowed on the road simply because a regulatory process has been completed.

Automation can make those goals easier to achieve.

It cannot replace effective enforcement and accountability.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.