Matatu, PSV and ride-hailing insurance in Kenya

Matatus, buses and taxis

From the NTSA (Operation of Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 2014:

• No public service vehicle may operate without an NTSA licence (reg. 4).
• The licence application must include current third-party insurance with an insurer meeting NTSA's minimum conditions (reg. 6(p)).
• The insurer must be licensed by IRA for that class, report its PSV claims and payouts to NTSA each year, and file its customer service charter and claims payment policy (reg. 13).
• Operators must also comply with the Work Injury Benefits Act for their crews (reg. 5).

Ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt and others)

The Transport Network Companies Regulations, 2022 require the platform to ensure all vehicles have valid insurance covers (reg. 11(d)). Before use, each vehicle needs valid insurance, a roadworthiness certificate, and must be no more than 16 years from manufacture (reg. 19(1)). Passengers carried for hire must be covered by the third-party policy (Cap. 405, s.5(b)(ii) — see the Cap. 405 guide for section 10 claims).

What operators should compare

• Passenger limits per seat and per event.
• Third-party property damage cover (not required by Cap. 405).
• Own damage, theft, and loss-of-use cover.
• WIBA cover for drivers and conductors — see business insurance.
• The insurer's claims payment policy filed with NTSA.

Sources

1. NTSA (Operation of Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 2014 (LN 23/2014) — Kenya Law (archived copy)
2. NTSA (Transport Network Companies, Owners, Drivers and Passengers) Regulations, 2022 (LN 120/2022) — Kenya Law (archived copy)
3. Insurance (Motor Vehicles Third Party Risks) Act, Cap. 405 — Kenya Law (archived copy)