NIT Professional Driving Guide Kenya · 2026
NTSA PSV Driver
Requirements in Kenya
Age · licence · experience · badge · documents
A step-by-step guide to checking whether you qualify to work as a PSV driver — without confusing licence-category age, professional training and PSV-driver authorisation.
Different rules · different ages
What do you need to become a PSV driver in Kenya?
You need the correct vehicle licence, the applicable age and experience, professional competence where required, and separate PSV-driver authorisation. Section 98 of the Traffic Act says a person should not drive a PSV on a road unless licensed for that purpose; for a PSV driver’s licence it uses the wording “over the age of twenty-four years” and requires a valid driving licence for the relevant vehicle class. [1]
Start in the right place
Begin with the vehicle — not the words “PSV licence”
A taxi driver, a 14-seater driver and a large-bus driver do not all follow the same licence-category route.
First identify the exact passenger vehicle you want to drive: its type, passenger capacity and intended use. Then identify the licence category that covers it. Only after that should you check age, experience, professional training and the separate PSV-driver requirements.
Step 1
Match the vehicle to the correct licence category
Kenya’s published licence schedule separates professional light vehicles from larger passenger vehicles. The table below is a practical starting point. [2]
| Category | Vehicle | Main eligibility point |
|---|---|---|
| B3 Professional | Professional light passenger vehicle / taxicab, within the published category limits | Category minimum age 21; professional-light-vehicle training has separate entry requirements. |
| D1 | Passenger van carrying a maximum of 14 passengers | Minimum category age 22; B1 and B2 are listed as prerequisites. |
| D2 | Bus carrying 14–32 passengers | Minimum age 25 and at least 3 years’ D1 experience. |
| D3 | Bus carrying 33 or more passengers | Minimum age 30 and at least 3 years’ D2 experience, plus applicable training and retesting. |
| D4 | Articulated bus | Advanced progression requiring at least 3 years’ D3 experience under the published schedule. |
Phone tip: swipe the table horizontally to see every column. For a full category-by-category guide, see NIT’s NTSA Driving Licence Categories in Kenya. For D1–D3 progression, see the Class D Driving Course guide.
The published wording describes D1 as a van with a maximum of 14 passengers and D2 as a bus carrying 14–32 passengers. If your vehicle sits exactly at that boundary, confirm its official classification and the category NTSA requires before paying for training. [2]
Step 2
Why PSV requirements mention 21, 22, over 24, 25 and 30
These figures answer different legal questions. They are not interchangeable and you should not simply choose the lowest one.
| Age | What it relates to | What it does not prove by itself |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | B3 Professional category minimum | That you already qualify for professional training or PSV work. |
| 22 | D1 category minimum; also the professional-light-vehicle training minimum | That a 22-year-old D1 holder automatically qualifies for a PSV driver’s licence. |
| Over 24 | PSV driver’s licence under section 98; section 33 also uses over 24 for matatu/motor-omnibus endorsements | That age alone satisfies the correct-class or experience rules. |
| 25 | D2 category minimum | That you may skip the required D1 experience. |
| 30 | D3 category minimum | That you may skip the required D2 experience. |
Phone tip: swipe horizontally to see the final column.
Sources: Traffic Act, sections 33 and 98; Traffic (Driving Schools, Driving Instructors and Driving Licences) Rules, licence schedule and professional-training provisions. [1][2]
Step 3
Check the experience rule that applies to your route
There is no safe universal shortcut such as “every PSV driver needs four years’ experience.” Different routes use experience differently.
Professional light-vehicle training requires at least four years’ driving experience, together with its separate age and medical-certification requirements. [2]
Section 33 requires the applicant to be over 24 and to have held a motor-car or commercial-vehicle licence for at least four years. [1]
D2 requires at least three years’ experience driving D1. Reaching age 25 is not enough on its own. [2]
D3 requires at least three years’ D2 experience; D4 is an advanced route requiring at least three years’ D3 experience. [2]
Practical rule: ask both “How long have I been driving?” and “Which category have I been driving?” The previous category matters when you are progressing through Class D.
Step 4
Separate vehicle entitlement from professional competence
The current driving-school rules contain a dedicated training chapter for Public Service Vehicle Drivers — Category D. The curriculum goes beyond basic vehicle control and includes passenger responsibility, observation, speed and space management, emergency manoeuvres, adverse conditions, preventive maintenance, conditions of carriage, customer care and practical road driving. [2]
Certificate of Competence matters
- The Category D PSV licence is treated as a professional driving licence under the Rules.
- The Rules provide for a Certificate of Competence in the professional process.
- Training covers safety, judgement and passenger responsibility — not only steering and gear control.
Do not build a 2026 application from an old screenshot
- Older curriculum copies and current consolidated Rules are not always identical.
- Use the current Kenya Law text for the legal framework.
- Use the live NTSA/eCitizen transaction for current upload fields and administrative steps.
Detailed B3 training is covered separately in NIT’s Class B3 Driving Licence Kenya guide. Article 212 stays focused on overall PSV-driver eligibility.
Steps 5–6
PSV licence, badge, Good Conduct and documents
A normal driving licence and PSV-driver authority perform different functions. Section 98 separately regulates the PSV-driver role, including the relevant driving licence, police suitability and the prescribed badge while working. [1]
Driving category vs PSV authority
- B3, D1, D2, D3 or D4 determines the vehicle category you may drive.
- The PSV driver’s licence/badge relates to working in public passenger transport.
- One does not replace the other.
Core records to have ready
- Identification details that match your government records.
- A valid driving licence showing the categories you actually hold.
- A valid Certificate of Good Conduct / Police Clearance where required.
- Training, competence, photograph or medical records requested by your current route.
NTSA’s PSV-badge service information identifies a valid Certificate of Good Conduct and a clear coloured passport photograph among the current driver requirements. The 2014 PSV Regulations also place the driver’s driving licence, identity card and Certificate of Good Conduct within the operator-record framework. [4][5]
For the actual badge application, renewal or replacement steps, use NIT’s dedicated PSV Badge Kenya 2026 guide rather than duplicating that process here.
Step 7
Medical fitness and retesting: what should a 2026 driver do?
These are two areas where an old article can give an incomplete answer. The safest approach is to separate what the law says from what NTSA is currently implementing in your transaction.
Section 105A of the Traffic Act provides for physical-fitness testing of PSV and commercial drivers on a three-year cycle and refers to physical fitness, eyesight and hearing. In January 2026, NTSA said the nationwide mandatory programme under that framework had not yet been rolled out and that an official rollout would be announced. B3 professional training separately has its own medical-certification requirement. [1][2][7]
The Traffic Act contains a three-year driving-test provision linked to renewal for PSV and commercial drivers, while the currently published Traffic Rules still contain older two-year wording in rule 65A(4). Because those published texts are not perfectly aligned, check the current NTSA requirement shown for your actual renewal or retest instead of relying on one old online number. [1][6]
NTSA’s current service portal brings Public Service Transport Operations, Driver Testing and Licensing and other transport services together under eCitizen credentials. [3]
Real-life checks
Six practical PSV eligibility examples
Use these examples as a method: check category, age, experience and PSV authority separately.
Brian has D1 at 22
He meets the D1 category age, but that alone does not satisfy section 98’s separate PSV-driver age requirement.
Category eligible · PSV age not establishedMary wants a minibus
At 26 with four years’ D1 experience, she clears the published D2 age and three-year D1 experience checks before moving to the remaining training and testing steps.
Age + prior category + experiencePeter wants D3
He is 30 but has only two years of D2. The age passes; the required three years of D2 experience does not yet.
Age passes · experience waitsAmina wants taxi work
At 25 with five years’ driving experience, she can check B3 professional training, medical certification and then the separate PSV-driver authority.
Ordinary licence → professional route → PSV authorityOtieno wants a matatu
He is over 24 and recently obtained D1, but has held the relevant motor-car licence for only two years. Section 33’s four-year history is still a problem.
Age passes · licence history shortKevin has the right category
His passenger-vehicle licence does not remove the separate PSV-driver licensing and badge requirements before carrying passengers for hire or reward.
Vehicle entitlement ≠ PSV authorityBefore you pay for training
Use this PSV eligibility path
Work from the vehicle outward. If an early step fails, solve it before paying for a later stage.
- Identify the exact passenger vehicle and passenger capacity.
- Confirm the correct B3 or Category D licence route.
- Check the minimum category age.
- Check the required previous licence and experience period.
- Complete the applicable professional training, testing and competence process.
- Confirm that your driving licence is valid and shows the correct category.
- Prepare Good Conduct, identification and any required supporting records.
- Complete the current NTSA PSV-driver licence/badge transaction before commercial passenger work.
Avoid expensive assumptions
Common mistakes that delay PSV drivers
Looking only at age
D2, D3 and D4 progression also depends on the previous category and experience.
Treating B3 age as PSV age
The 21-year category minimum, 22-year professional-training minimum and section 98 PSV age are different checks.
Calling every route “four years”
D2 and D3 use three-year progression rules even though four years appears in other PSV/professional routes.
Saying only “Class D”
Start with the vehicle: taxi/light professional vehicles and larger passenger vehicles do not use the same category.
Confusing the licence with the badge
The vehicle category and the PSV-driver role are separately regulated.
Using an old screenshot
Use current Kenya Law and the live NTSA/eCitizen transaction for your application.
Special 2026 case
School transport drivers have additional rules
Kenya’s Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026 create additional requirements for school-vehicle drivers. They include specific licensing, annual criminal-record assessment and annual medical-assessment provisions for the school-transport role. Those special rules should not be copied and presented as universal requirements for every taxi or matatu driver. [8]
Quick checks
PSV driver requirements — frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for a PSV driver in Kenya?
Can I work as a PSV driver at 22 if I have D1?
Does every PSV driver need four years’ driving experience?
What licence do I need for a 14-seater?
The published schedule describes D1 as a van carrying a maximum of 14 passengers and D2 as a bus carrying 14–32 passengers. Because the wording overlaps at 14, confirm the particular vehicle’s official classification before enrolling. [2]
Is a normal driving licence enough to drive a PSV?
No. You need the correct driving-licence category, but section 98 separately requires licensing for the PSV-driver role. [1]
Do PSV drivers need a Certificate of Good Conduct?
Do PSV drivers need a medical test in 2026?
The Traffic Act contains a three-year fitness-testing provision, and some professional training routes have separate medical requirements. NTSA said in January 2026 that the nationwide mandatory section 105A programme had not yet been rolled out. Check the requirement shown for your current route and transaction. [1][2][7]
Do PSV drivers retest every two years or three years?
Where do I access NTSA PSV services?
NTSA’s official service portal uses eCitizen credentials and includes Public Service Transport Operations and Driver Testing and Licensing. [3]
Bottom line
Check three things separately: the vehicle, your competence and PSV authority
Start with the vehicle and correct licence category. Then check category age and experience. Complete the professional training and competence steps that apply. Finally, satisfy the separate PSV-driver licensing, suitability and badge requirements.
Vehicle → correct licence category → age → experience → professional competence → valid licence → PSV suitability → Good Conduct/documents → PSV licence/badge.
Category ≠ competence ≠ PSV authority
Return to the eligibility checklist
Professional driving training in Migori
Register for the relevant driving course at Newton Institute of Technology
Before you pay, tell Admissions your age, the licence classes you already hold, how long you have held the relevant licence and the passenger vehicle you want to drive. NIT can help you identify the appropriate training route before enrolment.
Call / WhatsApp+254 713 584 858
Email admissionsinfo@niteducation.com
VisitNamba Area, Migori Town
Along Migori–Sirare Highway
References and official sources
[1] Traffic Act, Cap. 403 — Kenya Law.
[3] National Transport and Safety Authority Service Portal.
[4] NTSA — Processing of PSV Badges for Drivers and Conductors.
[6] Traffic Rules — Kenya Law.
[7] NTSA clarification on PSV/commercial-driver physical-fitness testing, 28 January 2026 — The Star.
[8] Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026 — Kenya Law.
Prepared by: Newton Institute of Technology Editorial Team
Institutional review: Engineer Simon Barongo
Evidence checked through: 29 October 2026
Editorial method: Primary legislation and NTSA sources were preferred. Where current implementation could not be established from primary material alone, the article states the limitation instead of presenting an unsupported universal rule.