A proposal before Parliament could significantly change how transport accidents are investigated in Kenya by creating a new independent agency to handle the work currently carried out by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and other transport regulators.
The Kenya Transportation Safety Board Bill, 2026 seeks to establish the Kenya Transportation Safety Board, which would be responsible for investigating accidents involving road, rail, air and maritime transport.
If the Bill is passed into law, the new Board will take over accident investigations from NTSA, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, the Kenya Maritime Authority and other agencies with similar responsibilities.
The proposal was discussed on Thursday, August 6, by the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee as lawmakers examined the financial cost of creating the new agency before the Bill moves to the next stages in Parliament.
The committee, led by Vice Chairperson Robert Pukose, reviewed the expected expenses associated with setting up the Board.
Although the new agency would handle accident investigations, the existing transport authorities would continue carrying out their regulatory and enforcement duties as provided for under the law. This means they would still oversee compliance with transport regulations and take enforcement action where necessary.
While presenting the Bill, Limuru MP John Kiragu argued that Kenya requires an independent institution to investigate transport accidents without being part of the agencies responsible for regulating the sector.
According to him, the country continues to experience serious road accidents despite the presence of NTSA, making it necessary to introduce a different approach.
Kiragu told the committee that the proposed Board would examine every possible cause of an accident before making recommendations aimed at improving transport safety.
He said investigations would cover issues such as road design, the condition of vehicles, transport systems and the behaviour of road users to establish what contributed to each incident.
However, not all lawmakers supported the proposal without raising concerns. Eldas MP Adan Keynan warned that creating another government agency could result in duplication of duties and confusion over responsibilities.
He argued that the main challenge facing transport safety is not the absence of institutions but the implementation of existing laws.
He suggested that Parliament should instead bring together all relevant stakeholders to review the current legal framework before establishing a new body.
In response, Kiragu maintained that the proposed Board would operate independently from regulators, similar to transport accident investigation agencies in countries such as the United States.
He explained that the Board’s role would only be to investigate accidents, establish the facts and issue recommendations, while enforcement agencies would remain responsible for taking action based on the findings.
Members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee agreed that the proposal requires wider consultations with stakeholders before the Bill proceeds through the remaining stages of the legislative process in Parliament.
