Road carnage: Murkomen orders re-testing of PSV drivers, return of NTSA inspections

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has ordered the immediate reassessment of drivers operating public service vehicles (PSVs) and heavy commercial vehicles.

This follows the recent surge in road accidents across the country, claiming numerous lives and causing severe injuries.

In a statement released on Tuesday, CS Murkomen emphasized the urgency of the driver re-evaluation exercise, which had been postponed multiple times.

"The re-testing of all PSV and heavy commercial drivers that had been postponed after an outcry from the sector will now be implemented without further delay. All stakeholders are expected to comply and cooperate," said Murkomen.

Murkomen also announced that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) will collaborate with the National Police Service (NPS) to enforce road safety regulations, overturning a previous directive that exempted NTSA from enforcement responsibilities.

"You will be seeing a return of the NTSA working with traffic police to enforce traffic safety on our roads as soon as possible," Murkomen stated.

Further, Murkomen mandated the NTSA to establish procedures for conducting medical tests on all drivers to ensure they are medically fit to drive legally.

"NTSA to put in place measures for the implementation of medical testing of all drivers as required by Section 105A(1) and (2) and Rule 30(4) of the Traffic (Driving Schools, Driving Instructors, and Driving Licence) Rules 202," he added.

The CS also directed the NTSA and the police to seize unroadworthy vehicles lacking integration with the intelligent road safety management system.

"As we approach the Easter festivities and the closing of schools, we shall be working closely with the NPS and monitoring the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations," he said.

In October of the previous year, the Cabinet Secretary suspended the retesting of commercial and PSV drivers for three months, stating that the extension would provide ample time for the ministry to negotiate with stakeholders regarding the retesting process.

The announcement stated, "This is to inform the public that we have extended the suspension of retesting for drivers holding licenses with class endorsements B3, D1, D2, D3, C, C1, CE, and CD for a further three months from the date of this notice."

Earlier, on June 20, 2023, NTSA declared that periodic retesting would become mandatory, to be conducted every three years before drivers could renew their licences.

"The retest is compulsory for commercial and public service vehicle drivers and is a prerequisite for licence renewal for those with class endorsements B3, D1, D2, D3, C, C1, CE, and CD. The retesting will occur every three years upon the expiration of licences with these endorsements," the statement explained.

These categories encompass drivers of commercial vehicles such as buses, matatus, and taxis, including those used for school transport. All NTSA Driver Test Units scheduled the retesting procedures, instructing drivers to apply online with a processing fee of Sh1,050 through their e-citizen accounts.