Murkomen Reverses Uhuru’s Order Barring NTSA Officers From Manning Roads
On Tuesday, March 19, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen declared the decision to overturn the directive that had removed National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) officials from the roads.
In a statement, the Chief Secretary disclosed that the choice was reached following discussions with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki.
“Having consulted with my Interior and National Coordination colleague, Prof Kithure Kindiki, we are going to establish a mechanism where the previous directive to remove NTSA from enforcement will be vacated and a collaborative regime between NTSA and NPS will be put in place for a more efficient enforcement,” read part of the statement.
Murkomen disclosed that NTSA officials are set to work in conjunction with the traffic police, marking a shift from a decree issued by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018.
This directive was one of the mandates given by the Chief Secretary following a horrific accident on Monday along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, which involved a bus from Kenyatta University and a trailer.
This incident led to the fatalities of 11 students, with more than 20 others suffering serious injuries. Additionally, five individuals perished in a separate accident in Bomet County.
In Kisumu, Kindiki addressed the crowd and declared a countrywide initiative aimed at formulating strategies to decrease the frequency of road accidents nationwide.
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At the event, Kindiki expressed worry about the loss of innocent lives in road accidents, which was particularly poignant following the tragic incident where 11 students from Kenyatta University perished in a Voi, Taita Taveta County accident earlier that day.
“We are coming up with nationwide law enforcement measures against traffic offenses, drunk driving, and unroadworthy vehicles,” he stated.
The CS further noted that the government would also impose measures to govern all road users across the country to ensure they obey traffic laws.
Kindiki stated that the initiative would engage the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Transport, and the NTSA. He underscored the anomaly of approximately 4,000 Kenyans losing their lives in road accidents.
He underscored the importance of combating corruption on the roads, which significantly contributes to the increase in accidents. Kindiki highlighted that certain drivers were engaging in bribery with corrupt traffic officers, enabling them to operate vehicles that were not roadworthy and exceeded passenger capacity.
“Some motorists are rude and defy orders from traffic offers, therefore we are calling upon all road users to comply including motorcycle riders,” he added.
The CS highlighted that certain individuals were left incapacitated after road accidents, impeding their ability to engage in daily tasks or sustain their livelihoods.
Murkomen Reverses Uhuru’s Order Barring NTSA Officers From Manning Roads