NTSA under fire for negligence, lax enforcement after deadly road crashes
The Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LODCA) said NTSA, which was created to bring order, safety and efficiency to the transport sector, has instead allowed inefficiency and corruption to dominate, endangering both passengers and drivers.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has been accused of gross inefficiency, corruption and failure to enforce safety laws, concerns that have allegedly contributed to rising road fatalities in Kenya.
This follows the death of 20 Kenyans in two separate accidents involving Toyota Hiace H200 vehicles on September 27 and 28.
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In a statement, the Long Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LODCA) said NTSA, which was created to bring order, safety and efficiency to the transport sector, has instead allowed inefficiency and corruption to dominate, endangering both passengers and drivers.
“Passengers are left to face unsafe vehicles, rising road fatalities and preventable deaths. Drivers are subjected to exploitation, long hours and harsh targets that push them into fatigue, poor mental health and unsafe driving. Corruption has flourished, with some drivers obtaining licenses without even basic knowledge of the Highway Code,” LODCA said.
The association described the recent tragedies as preventable, noting that the Toyota Hiace H200 series was originally designed for cargo, not passengers and its weak structure cannot withstand crashes, making it a death trap when used as a matatu.
“This was no freak accident. Yet NTSA has allowed it to dominate public transport,” it said.
The lobby argued that safer alternatives, such as the Toyota Hiace H300, which is designed with reinforced passenger safety standards, exist but have not been enforced by NTSA, leaving Kenyans vulnerable.
LODCA also singled out NTSA leadership as a central cause of the crisis, highlighting that Director General George Njao, appointed in November 2019 for a three-year term, has overstayed his tenure since it expired in 2022.
Cosmas Ngeso, Director of Licensing, was also criticised for failing to ensure credible driver licensing and safe vehicle registration.
“Their inability to enforce the NTSA Act, regulate unsafe vehicles and safeguard both passengers and drivers has cost Kenyans their lives. These leaders must be investigated, held accountable and compelled to step down,” the association said.
The lobby further condemned NTSA’s day-to-day inefficiencies, saying delays in issuing smart licences, logbooks, and number plates have created opportunities for brokers to exploit desperate Kenyans. LODCA argued that the authority must fully implement the NTSA Act, overhaul its leadership, phase out unsafe Hiace H200 vehicles, protect drivers’ welfare and modernise its IT systems to restore public trust.
“The deaths of 20 Kenyans in just two days are not isolated tragedies; they are the inevitable result of NTSA’s failure. Every delay, every ignored reform, every leadership lapse translates directly into lost lives. Kenyans must demand accountability. NTSA must act, and its leadership must go,” LODCA said.
On Sunday, thirteen people lost their lives in a tragic road accident near Kikopey, Gilgil, along the Nakuru–Nairobi highway. Nakuru County Police Commander Emmanuel Opuru said the victims were travelling in a 14-seater public service vehicle (PSV) headed to Nakuru when it collided head-on with a semi-trailer truck.
Among the three passengers who sustained serious injuries were two children.
“The matatu was overtaking and then it rammed into the trailer, causing 13 fatalities and three others seriously injured,” Opuru said.
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Police moved the bodies to Gilgil Sub-County Hospital mortuary, while the injured are receiving treatment at the same facility.
Preliminary reports indicate that the victims had hired the matatu in Nairobi to attend a family function. Authorities have since launched investigations into the cause of the crash, with road safety officials urging motorists to exercise caution, particularly when overtaking on busy highways.
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