NTSA offices open on Saturday for Kenyans to collect documents

Offices of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) will remain open on Saturday to allow Kenyans to collect documents that have piled up at the authority's offices across the country.

The authority said Kenyans can walk into their offices between 8 am and 1 pm to collect their Smart Driving Licenses, log books and number plates.

"We urge our esteemed clients who have received SMS notifications to visit the NTSA office identified during the application process and collect number plates, logbooks and smart DLs," the authority said.

The authority says thousands of the documents have been lying idle since they are printed daily.

The extension to the weekend caters to clients who have been busy during the week and therefore unable to collect their documents.

Those collecting their driving licenses are required to visit the offices with their original Identity cards, while those seeking new number plates have been asked to come with their old plates and original Identity cards.

Those seeking logbooks are required to present their previous logbooks and original ID.

At the same time, a medical camp targeting school transport drivers will be taking place at Parklands Primary School to enlighten them on road safety.

NTSA's offices operate between Monday to Friday, from 7:30 am to 6 pm.

Since November last year, the authority has had to extend its working hours occasionally to address the high demand for the new generation plates.

The amended Traffic Act (2016) allows the new digital plates to bear a QR code, a hologram, an NTSA serial number (front different from the back plate), a Kenyan flag (with the exemption of diplomatic vehicles) and other classified features that will only be accessed by security personnel.

The hidden features are meant to allow law enforcement agencies and the Kenya Revenue Authority to instantly obtain personal details of a vehicle's owner, registration, engine and chassis numbers and history of previous owners by scanning the plate using a digital device.

The numbers that were revealed to the public in August 2022, have been under production at the GSU Recce headquarters in Ruiru.

Previously, the plates were produced at Kamiti prisons.

The government announced at the time that the facility could produce all the required plates within a year but the process will be staggered to a period of 18 months from the date of their rollout.