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NTSA suspends licences for 2 matatu Saccos, orders drivers retested

A file photo of an anti-drunk driving operation involving the police and officials of the National Transport and Safety Authority. (Photo: X/NTSA)

By Bashir Mohammed | Friday, March 29, 2024

Their drivers will also undergo mandatory road safety sensitisation and retesting.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended the operator licences of two matatu Saccos accused of failing to comply with traffic regulations.

In a statement issued on Friday, the authority stated that the two Saccos, Bungoma Line Safaris Ltd and Smart Highways Sacco Ltd, violated its Intelligent Road Safety Management System and breached Section 5 of the NTSA (Operation of PSV) Regulations, 2014.

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"The Saccos failed to comply with the provisions of Section 5 of the NTSA (operation of PSV) regulations, 2014, and the analysis of speedy data violations compiled through the NTSA intelligent road safety management system," the statement read.

NTSA further instructed the Saccos to present their entire fleet for a compliance inspection where it will assess their roadworthiness and verify the functionality of installed speed limiters.

Bungoma Line Safaris Ltd has 162 vehicles in its fleet while Smart Highways Sacco Ltd has 29.

NTSA also ordered the Saccos to adhere strictly to all requirements outlined in the Traffic Act and the PSV regulations as they undergo review.

Their drivers will also undergo mandatory road safety sensitisation and retesting to ensure their competency and adherence to safety standards. 14 drivers from Bungoma Line and two from Smart Highways were already lined up for retesting.

In light of the suspensions, NTSA advised the National Police to impound any vehicles belonging to the affected Saccos found operating contrary to its order.

The suspension of the Saccos followed NTSA’s recently conducted compliance checks along major highways, catching several motorists off guard.

NTSA led a multiagency team comprising officers drawn from the National Police Service in erecting roadblocks along various routes where vehicles were impounded for non-compliance with traffic regulations.

Among the roads where the operation was conducted included the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, the Garissa-Nairobi highway, the Embu-Nairobi highway, and several roads in Kisii, signalling the authorities' commitment to ensuring road safety and compliance with established regulations.