MPs consider Bill to establish independent transport accident investigation board
The National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee has considered a legislative proposal seeking to establish an independent body to investigate transport accidents and strengthen safety oversight across Kenya’s road, rail, air and maritime sectors.
The committee, chaired by Vice Chairperson Robert Pukose, reviewed the proposed Kenya Transportation Safety Board Bill, 2026, sponsored by Dagoretti South MP John Kiragu Chege, during scrutiny of its financial implications.
The Bill proposes the establishment of the Kenya Transportation Safety Board, an independent agency mandated to investigate transport-related accidents and incidents, determine their causes and make recommendations aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future.
If enacted, the board would consolidate accident investigation functions that are currently undertaken by various agencies, including the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) and other transport regulators.
Presenting the proposal, Kiragu said Kenya’s recurring transport accidents highlighted the need for an independent institution dedicated to investigations rather than enforcement.
“We have a history of road tragedies, yet there appears to be no independent investigation body that examines accidents comprehensively and identifies solutions to prevent recurrence,” Kiragu told the committee.
He argued that despite the establishment of the NTSA, road fatalities remain high, making it necessary to comprehensively examine factors such as road design, vehicle safety, infrastructure and human behaviour.
“We need to look at transport safety holistically. Is it our road design, the condition of our vehicles, or the conduct of road users? We need an institution that establishes the facts and makes recommendations to prevent future accidents,” he said.
Committee member Ruth Odinga welcomed the proposal, describing the country’s road safety situation as worrying.
“This is a good Bill and I hope it is adopted by the House. The situation in the transport sector is dire. We continue to lose far too many lives on our roads. The key question is how this body will help reduce accidents and improve transport safety in the country,” she said.
Jane Kagiri also supported the proposal, saying previous investigations into major transport accidents had often failed to produce conclusive findings that inspire public confidence.
“We have had several major accidents in this country, yet to this day many investigations have not produced conclusions that the public can rely on. We need a credible institution that inspires confidence,” Kagiri said.
However, Adan Keynan urged caution, warning against creating another institution whose mandate could overlap with those of existing agencies.
“We already have NTSA, the Kenya Airports Authority, the Kenya Maritime Authority and the State Department for Transport. The challenge is implementation. We should convene all stakeholders, interrogate the existing transport laws and ensure we are not creating overlapping mandates and jurisdictional conflicts,” Keynan said.
Responding to the concerns, Kiragu clarified that the proposed board would function as an independent investigative agency similar to transport safety boards in countries such as the United States and Singapore.
He said the board would be responsible for investigating accidents and making safety recommendations, while enforcement and prosecution would remain the responsibility of existing agencies.
Committee members agreed that wider stakeholder consultations would be necessary before the Bill proceeds through Parliament to ensure the proposed reforms complement, rather than duplicate, Kenya’s existing transport safety framework.