The local problem
What school transport in Nairobi asks of a school.
- Morning routes across Nairobi or Mombasa are long, so the first child is collected early and the order of stops matters.
- Vans and buses seat different numbers of children, so a plan made for one does not fit the other.
- Parents want to know their child is aboard without calling the driver.
- The rules for school transport vehicles have been changing, and a school has to show it keeps up.
How Trayvar answers it
How Trayvar runs it, for buses and vans alike.
- School van tracking works the same as for a bus: each child taps an NFC card on the driver's phone, and the pickup is recorded with its time and GPS location (school bus tracking app).
- Routes are planned within each vehicle's seats, van or bus, overnight and by itself on Growth and Scale and route by route when you ask on Starter (school bus routing software).
- Parents get a WhatsApp message at pickup, when the vehicle is close and at drop-off (parent notifications).
- Children scheduled but not confirmed aboard are counted on the Live screen, so the team follows them up during the day.
The local rules
NTSA school transport rules, and where they stand.
- In February 2026 the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport made the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026, under the Traffic Act (Legal Notice No. 11 of 2026).[1]
- As made, they require a school transport provider's licence from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), a road licence for each school vehicle, "SCHOOL BUS" and "DO NOT PASS" markings, a telematic system with a passenger-facing camera and a trained attendant on each vehicle.[1]
- A motion to annul the Rules was before the Senate in July 2026,[2] and in September 2026 the Senate was reported to have resolved to annul them.[3] Whether any of these requirements apply today is for NTSA to confirm: check with NTSA before you plan around them.
Sources
- Republic of Kenya, Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 14 (Legislative Supplement No. 10, 13 February 2026), via Kenya Law, The Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 11 of 2026): made under section 105B(3) of the Traffic Act (Cap. 403): the school transport provider's licence from NTSA, the school vehicle road licence, markings, the telematic system with a passenger-facing camera and vehicle attendants. Read 12 November 2026.
- Parliament of Kenya, the Senate, Votes and Proceedings, Tuesday 28 July 2026: order 10: the motion to annul the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026, deferred. Read 12 November 2026.
- allAfrica (press report), Kenya: Senate Throws Out NTSA Regulations for Lack of Public Participation, 10 September 2026: reports that on Tuesday 8 September 2026 the Senate adopted its Delegated Legislation committee's report and resolved to annul the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 11 of 2026); a press report, cited until Parliament's own record of the vote is found. Read 12 November 2026.
Pricing in Kenyan shillings
Priced per vehicle, the same for operators and schools.
Trayvar is priced per vehicle per month in US dollars and invoiced in USD unless otherwise agreed. Below, each price is shown in Kenyan shillings at today's exchange rate. Every tier and feature is on the school bus software pricing page.
| Tier | Billed annually | Billed monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Starter Up to 10 vehicles | … USD 47 | … USD 55 |
| Growth Up to 30 vehicles | … USD 38 | … USD 45 |
| Scale 31 or more vehicles | … USD 29 | … USD 34 |
Per vehicle per month. Fetching live rates…. Contracts are invoiced in USD unless otherwise agreed.
Questions and answers
How much does a school transport management system cost in Kenya?
Trayvar is priced per vehicle per month, from $29 to $55 depending on the tier and the billing cycle. This page and the pricing page show each price in Kenyan shillings at today's exchange rate. Contracts are invoiced in USD unless otherwise agreed.
Is there a school bus tracking app in Kenya that works for school vans?
Yes. Trayvar records each child boarding a van or a bus the same way, with an NFC tap on the driver's phone, and plans every route within that vehicle's seats.
Does Trayvar provide the telematic system the 2026 Rules describe?
No. The Rules, as made, describe a telematic system with a passenger-facing camera, fitted to the vehicle, and Trayvar does not supply one. Trayvar records each child aboard and the vehicle's position from the driver's phone, alongside whatever the vehicle carries. The Senate was reported in September 2026 to have annulled the Rules, so confirm with NTSA which requirements apply.
Do parents in Kenya need to download an app?
No. Parents hear from Trayvar on WhatsApp, the channel they already use.
Tell us about your routes.
Tell us your vehicles, the schools you serve and their bell times. We come back within 48 hours.