Murkomen Orders NTSA to Launch Nationwide Crackdown on Private Vehicles
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has been instructed by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to commence a comprehensive enforcement campaign across the country against private vehicles, to confiscate any identified that are functioning as Public Service Vehicles (PSVs).
Thursday at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), while addressing delegates of the Matatu Owners Association at the National Delegates Council Meeting, Murkomen stated that a subset of motorists had developed the propensity to operate PSVs without authorization.
He added that private vehicles will be obligated to adhere to the same protocols that have been established for PSVS, which entails remitting inspection fees and all other obligatory taxation.
“As a Kenyan before you board any vehicle, first make sure the car you are boarding is a PSV. Otherwise, once we catch you, you’ll be left stranded wherever the car will be found,” Murkomen stated.
Before functioning as PSVs, private vehicles must also be registered with the Matatu Owners Association (MOA), according to Murkomen.
Sienta, Probox, and Voxy were, according to Murkomen, notorious for this vice.
“I cannot just tell you this and fail to implement it. From tomorrow morning Kazi inaanza (work begins),” Murkomen added.
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In addition, the CS issued a stern warning to all private vehicle owners, particularly revelers, stating that their vehicles cause more fatalities on Kenyan roads than PSVs.
Certain commuters in Nairobi expressed a preference for receiving economical lift rides in private vehicles. Some of the vehicles can transport as many as five passengers to and from work and back home with the chauffeurs.
Commuters also indicated a preference for private vans owned by corporations as viable alternatives to matatus, which incur extended wait times at terminals.
To improve road safety, NTSA Director General George Njau recently announced that the organization intended to include private motor vehicles in its annual motor vehicle inspection exercise.
Njau explained during his testimony before the Senate Transport Committee that the proposal was one of several potential measures the NTSA was evaluating to reduce road accidents.Â
Murkomen Orders NTSA to Launch Nationwide Crackdown on Private Vehicles
