Insurance and Legal Obligations in Kenya

Driving in Kenya carries legal duties that are tested on the NTSA theory exam and enforced on the road. The most important is insurance: third-party cover is the legal minimum, and driving without insurance is a criminal offence that can bring a fine and imprisonment. Third-party insurance covers damage you cause to other people and their property, while comprehensive cover adds your own vehicle, theft, and fire.

Always carry your driving licence, your insurance certificate, and your vehicle logbook (or a copy), and make sure your NTSA inspection sticker is displayed on the windscreen where required. Using a handheld mobile phone while driving is illegal; use a hands-free kit or pull over safely to take a call.

Drink-driving is treated seriously. Under the Traffic (Drink Driving) Rules, 2026 (Legal Notice 12 of 2026), a private driver is over the limit at 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath (about 80 mg per 100 ml of blood), while PSV, commercial, and school-transport drivers face a zero-tolerance limit. Penalties escalate with the offence: minor offences carry fines of a few hundred to a few thousand shillings, and causing death by dangerous driving can bring up to 20 years' imprisonment.