NTSA Issues Warning to SACCOs Whose Matatus are Covered With Graffiti
- The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is the only body in Kenya responsible for regulating the operations of passenger service vehicles (PSVs)
- The regulator has been cracking the whip on errant PSV operators in Kenya to restore order on Kenyan roads
- NTSA has put rogue PSV operators on notice to abide by rules in their day-to-day operations or face sanctions as stipulated by law
Bonface Kanyamwaya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has more than 10 years of financial, economics, business, markets, and aviation expertise, providing insights into Kenya and global trends.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has raised the red flag over the rising number of PSVs operating in blatant violation of the law.
Source: Twitter
The transport regulator, in a notice on Tuesday, 27 May, stated that many PSV vehicles operating in Kenya have been painted with graffiti and other unauthorised artistic works.
This, the authority said, has blocked crucial details on the vehicles, such as SACCO names, routes, and the necessary yellow line that identifies all PSVs in Kenya.
"A notable number of vehicles have been modified through the application of graffiti and other unauthorised artistic enhancements, resulting in the inability to identify the name of the Sacco or company under which the vehicle operates, its designated route, or the mandatory continuous yellow line that distinguishes licensed PSVs.
"Such contraventions violate the letter and spirit of the regulations and undermine public confidence in the PSV sector by creating ambiguity as to the licensed operator," said the authority in the notice, which was seen by TUKO.co.ke.
Furthermore, the notice said a good number of these PSVs have failed to conspicuously display the official NTSA operational sticker or any other identifying mark issued by the authority, rendering regulatory verification and enforcement ineffective.
PSVs to conduct immediate, comprehensive audit
As such, all licensed public transport operators were directed to conduct an immediate and comprehensive audit of their fleets to ensure full compliance with the requirements of the regulations.
"The authority hereby gives notice that all Public Service Vehicle operators are required to take immediate corrective action, failure to which regulatory measures will be instituted at individual motor vehicle owner and operator level, including but not limited to vehicle impoundment, suspension, and revocation of the licence," said the authority in the notice.
The new plans to tame non-compliant PSV operators are part of a wider move by the authority to restore sanity on Kenyan roads.
NTSA has been very strict in enforcing regulations in the last few days, especially among PSV operators, some of whom have been operating in total disregard for the law.
Source: Getty Images
NTSA to sell 10 cars and office equipment
In other news, the authority on Tuesday, May 20, announced plans to sell 10 vehicles and office equipment.
The cars owned by NTSA, which are to be sold via public auction, are stationed in Nyahururu, Nakuru, Kisii, and other towns in Kenya.
The cars of different models will be sold through public auction between Monday, 4 June, and Tuesday, 13 June.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
