New Safety Guidelines Issued for Nairobi Schools Ahead of Rainy Season

Ahead of the anticipated heavy downpours, the Kenya National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has released a set of new safety directives aimed at protecting learners in Nairobi during the transition into the rainy season. On October 7, 2025, the authority renewed the Operation Watoto Wafike Salama campaign with a focus on school‑travel safety, issuing five key guidelines to drivers ferrying students. These include obeying traffic laws, reducing speed in wet conditions, ensuring children use seatbelts, avoiding flooded roads, and keeping vehicles in proper working order.
The guidance is informed by the frequently hazardous conditions that have previously disrupted school transport during Nairobi’s rainy spells. With roads turning slippery, visibility dropping, and some routes becoming impassable, schools and county education officials are bracing for extra risks as thousands of students commute daily. NTSA emphasised that all stakeholders—from school transport operators through to parents and bus drivers—must step up their vigilance and adapt practices to the adverse weather. Schools themselves are being encouraged to review pickup routes, coordinate with parents, and have contingency travel plans in place.
Reactions among the school community have been broadly supportive. School administrators welcomed the guidelines as timely, noting that past flooding and road blockages have forced early releases and disrupted learning for many Nairobi pupils. Parents expressed relief that the transport‑related risks would be formally addressed, while education analysts pointed out the need for similar comprehensive safety protocols within school compounds — such as secure drainage, alternative access routes, and emergency drills. Some highlighted that such measures are particularly vital for schools in informal‑settlement zones, where infrastructure is weaker and weather impacts more severe.
Looking ahead, NTSA and the county education department plan to broaden the campaign into full school safety audits across Nairobi in the coming weeks. The focus includes ensuring that transport operators servicing learners obtain proper licenses, undergo rainy‑season preparedness checks, and coordinate with schools for timely parent‑communications when weather disrupts normal routing. If implemented effectively, these guidelines could significantly reduce accidents and ensure that thousands of Nairobi students can travel safely to and from school even during the heaviest rains.