The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended the operating licences for two transport companies.
The two, Bungoma Line Safari Ltd and Smart Highways Sacco Ltd, are said to have failed to comply with speed regulations set by the law.
“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),” the statement read in part.
NTSA has ordered the two saccos to present their vehicles for compliance inspection to establish their roadworthiness and to confirm the functionality of the installed speed limiters.
“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,” NTSA added.
Bungoma Line will be required to present 162 vehicles for compliance inspection while Smart Highways Sacco will present 29 vehicles. Bungoma Line will also present the same number of vehicles for compliance checks by the speed limiter vendor while Smart Highways Sacco will present 27 vehicles.
The two saccos will also have their all drivers undergo road safety sensitization before being allowed to operate public service vehicles.
Bungoma Line will be required to 14 drivers retested by NTSA while Smart Highways Sacco will have two drivers retested.
The National Police Service ( NPS) has been advised to impound vehicles operating contrary to the suspension.
NTSA crackdown
NTSA on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, impounded several vehicles and motorbikes during a nationwide crackdown.
The authority teamed up with the National Police Service to erect roadblocks on major highways in a multiagency operation that nabbed several traffic offenders.
Many motorists were caught unaware during NTSA road safety compliance checks across several counties.
Statistics released by NTSA last week showed that the number of road accidents in the country between January 1, 2024, to March 20, 2024, had risen by 7 per cent compared to a similar period last year.
According to data from NTSA, 1,026 people were killed in road accidents across the country from January to March 20, 2024.
The authority said 384 pedestrians,77 drivers, 225 passengers, 16 pedal cyclists, 242 motorcyclists, and 82 pillion passengers lost their lives in road accidents between January 1 and March 20, 2023.
The authority attributes the deaths to a breach of road safety regulations.
The report analysis follows a spate of road accidents involving public service vehicles and school buses.
