{"id":3713,"date":"2026-10-30T08:21:35","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T05:21:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/niteducation.com\/resources\/?p=3713"},"modified":"2026-10-30T08:21:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T05:21:37","slug":"psv-driver-requirements-kenya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/niteducation.com\/resources\/psv-driver-requirements-kenya\/","title":{"rendered":"NTSA PSV Driver Requirements Kenya 2026: Age & Licence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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NIT Professional Driving Guide Kenya \u00b7 2026<\/span><\/p>\n

NTSA PSV Driver
Requirements in Kenya<\/p>\n

Age \u00b7<\/i> licence \u00b7<\/i> experience \u00b7<\/i> badge \u00b7<\/i> documents<\/p>\n

A step-by-step guide to checking whether you qualify to work as a PSV driver \u2014 without confusing licence-category age, professional training and PSV-driver authorisation.<\/p>\n

\n Check the requirements<\/a>\n Use the eligibility checklist<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Different rules \u00b7 different ages<\/p>\n

\n 21<\/span>\n 22<\/span>\n 25<\/span>\n 30<\/span>\n >24<\/strong>\n <\/div>\n
The key distinction<\/span>Category age \u2260 PSV-driver age<\/strong>Check the vehicle category, experience and PSV authorisation separately.<\/small><\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Prepared by<\/span>Newton Institute of Technology Editorial Team<\/p>\n

Institutional review<\/span>Engineer Simon Barongo<\/p>\n

Primary evidence<\/span>Kenya Law \u00b7 NTSA<\/p>\n

Checked<\/span>29 October 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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\n Direct answer<\/span>\n

What do you need to become a PSV driver in Kenya?<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n

You need the correct vehicle licence, the applicable age and experience, professional competence where required, and separate PSV-driver authorisation.<\/strong> 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 \u201cover the age of twenty-four years\u201d<\/strong> and requires a valid driving licence for the relevant vehicle class. [1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n <\/section>\n\n

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Start in the right place<\/p>\n

Begin with the vehicle \u2014 not the words \u201cPSV licence\u201d<\/h2>\n

A taxi driver, a 14-seater driver and a large-bus driver do not all follow the same licence-category route.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Layer 1<\/span>Vehicle class<\/strong>B3, D1, D2, D3 or another applicable category must match the vehicle.<\/small><\/div>\n
Layer 2<\/span>Competence<\/strong>Professional training, testing and a Certificate of Competence may apply.<\/small><\/div>\n
Layer 3<\/span>PSV authority<\/strong>PSV age, suitability, Good Conduct and the driver licence\/badge are separate checks.<\/small><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n