Nairobi – The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has put parents on notice, cautioning them that permitting children under the age of 18 to operate a motor vehicle is a punishable offence in Kenya.
The transport regulator issued the warning on Monday, November 2, ahead of the holiday season, reminding parents that the legal minimum driving age in Kenya is 18 years and that only holders of a valid driving licence are permitted to operate a vehicle on public roads.
NTSA’s holiday rules for parents
NTSA stressed that responsibility for vehicle access rests squarely with the owner, cautioning that even a child who is capable of driving must not be allowed behind the wheel.
The authority urged families to physically secure their car keys by keeping them out of sight and beyond the reach of minors.
“Your Keys. Your Vehicle. Your Responsibility. Don’t let your child become the next statistic. The minimum driving age in Kenya is 18 years. Allowing, or failing to prevent, an underage or unlicensed person from driving is an offence,” NTSA said in its statement.
Beyond securing keys, the regulator called on parents to hold deliberate conversations with their children about road safety, urging them to make young people fully aware of the consequences of underage driving and the devastating toll that road traffic crashes can take on lives and families.
NTSA: Monitor your vehicle at all times
NTSA also directed parents to keep close track of their vehicles at all times, warning against situations where a car’s whereabouts are unknown to its owner. The authority framed vehicle monitoring as a matter of both safety and legal accountability.
“Monitor vehicle use: Know exactly where your vehicles are at all times,” the regulator stated.
The warning comes as Kenyan families prepare for the upcoming holiday period, a time when road safety incidents historically spike due to increased traffic volumes and, in some cases, reckless driving behaviour.
NTSA’s message underscores that parents bear direct legal exposure when they fail to prevent underage or unlicensed individuals from accessing their vehicles.
