The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced enhanced compliance checks to bolster learner safety as schools reopen for the second term.

Director General Nashon Kondiwa says Operation Watoto Wafike Salama will be intensified nationwide to ensure the safe passage of children during the back-to-school period starting Monday, April 27.

"A multi-agency team will heighten strict compliance checks across the country, and we urge all motorists to exercise the highest level of responsibility while on the roads," Kondiwa said in a statement.

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Schools officially reopened on April 27 after a three-week holiday, with learners now set for a 14-week term ending on July 31.

A mid-term break is scheduled for June 24–28, followed by a three-week holiday beginning in early August.

As part of efforts to safeguard learners travelling back to school for the most demanding term, NTSA has ordered mandatory inspections of all school transport vehicles to ensure they meet required standards.

"All school transport operators are expected to present their fleets for inspection to confirm that the vehicles are mechanically sound and safe for transporting children," Kondiwa said, emphasising the authority's commitment to working with stakeholders to enhance safety on the roads.

"We call on parents, school administrations and school transport operators to prioritise the safety of our children during this period."

Meanwhile, NTSA has issued an update following a fatal traffic crash in the Nairegia area along the Mai Mahiu–Narok Road.

Eight people died in the Saturday evening crash after a Toyota Voxy they were travelling in from Nairobi to Narok collided head-on with a trailer.

A police report said the trailer was travelling from Narok towards Mai Mahiu when the driver lost control of the Mercedes Axor, causing it to veer off its lane and crash into the oncoming minivan.

The driver of the Voxy and seven passengers died on the spot due to the impact, while the trailer driver sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Narok County Referral Hospital, police said.

Following the collision, the trailer veered off the road, uprooted several trees, and plunged into a ditch head-first, leaving its cabin completely mangled.

"The authority takes this opportunity to condole with the families and friends of those who lost their loved ones in the tragic road traffic crash. We assure the public that we are working closely with the National Police Service to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that led the driver to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in the head-on collision," Kondiwa said.

He said NTSA will develop evidence-based recommendations from the investigations, focusing on priority areas outlined in the National Road Safety Action Plan (2024–2028), for implementation by relevant stakeholders.