NTSA suspends two matatu Saccos' licences over non-compliance
Matatus queue to transport passengers in Nairobi on September 12, 2023.
The National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended the licences of two matatu Saccos over non-compliance.
According to NTSA Director General George Njao, Bungoma Line Safari Ltd and Smart Highways Sacco Ltd, the companies behind the long-distance shuttles failed to comply with the necessary regulations, including speed violations.
“The Authority notifies the public that it has suspended the Operator Licenses for Bungoma Line Safari Ltd and Smart Highways Sacco Ltd. The suspensions were necessitated by the Saccos' failure to comply with provisions of Section 5 of the NTSA (Operation of PSV) Regulations, 2014 and analysis of speed data violations that were compiled through the NTSA Intelligent Road Safety Management System. (IRSMS),” read the statement in part.
NTSA further directed the two Saccos to submit their vehicles for inspection should the owners want the licences restored.
“In its decision, the Authority expects the Saccos to comply with all the requirements of the Traffic Act, the PSV Regulations and present their vehicles for compliance inspection to establish their roadworthiness and to confirm the functionality of the installed speed limiters,” it added.
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The suspension comes as the authority has been cracking down on motorists who flout traffic rules and regulations in the country.
On Wednesday, an enforcement team at Lukenya, Machakos County, on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway netted more than 1,000 errant vehicles.
The vehicles included private and public service vehicles, ferrying passengers to various destinations.
Mr Njau, other senior NTSA officers and their National Police Service counterparts oversaw the crackdown, where vehicles were impounded and their number plates removed for failing to comply with various traffic regulations.
Athi River OCPD Jos Mudavadi said that the operation, which started around 10am, was meant to enforce traffic laws.
“Today alone we have managed to impound more than 1,000 vehicles both private, commercial and unroadworthy ones alongside those that don't have the required documents as per the law,” said Mudavadi.
Also, motorists who flout traffic rules and regulations were arrested during the crackdown.
“All motorists must possess relevant required documents like driving licenses to be on the road,” he said.
Njau said that most accidents result from unsafe road user behaviour such as overloading, unsafe crossing, speeding and drunk driving.
“Road safety begins with each and every one of us. Travellers should do their part by always wearing seatbelts and reporting PSV drivers who appear to be driving under the influence,” said Njau.
“We have been conducting such crackdowns since February. This is one of the strategies to ensure safety on our roads for the benefit of all road users, and we will continue to do so until insanity is restored.”
He added that it was not only in Nairobi or Machakos, but NTSA officers had mounted compliance checks on major highways.
“Similar checks were conducted along the Garissa-Nairobi highway, Embu-Nairobi road and in Kisii and other major highways in the country,” he said.
According to statistics from the NTSA, 1,090 people have lost their lives in road accidents in Kenya this year alone.
A closer look at the traffic data from January 1 to March 24 shows that the number of deaths has increased compared to the same period in 2023.
As of March 24, pedestrians lead in fatalities at 403, compared with 343 recorded last year.
The majority of the fatalities were pedestrians, followed by motorcyclists, passengers, drivers, pillion passengers and pedal cyclists.
Motorcyclists recorded 260 deaths, marking a slight drop compared to 276 in 2023.
“In 2024, at least 233 passengers have lost their lives in road crashes compared to 178 in 2023 with 84 drivers losing their lives in road accidents which is a decrease compared to 100 in the same period last year,” NTSA said.
Pillion passengers recorded 92 deaths compared to 96 witnessed last year, with 18 pedal cyclists losing their lives this year from an accident within the period under review compared to 19 recorded in 2023.
In its draft National Road Safety Action Plan 2023-2027, the NTSA says several national and county government agencies are underfunded to deliver safety-related services.
These include the NTSA, the Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha), the police and county health authorities.
