A new bill seeking to widen the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA's) mandate to curb the rising number of road accidents is set to be presented in Parliament.
The National Safety and Transport Authority Amendment Bill (2024) proposes radical changes including changing the agency's name to The National Safety and Transportation Authority, a move which will grant it the powers to investigate all forms of transportation accidents.
This means that NTSA will have the powers to investigate accidents across all modes of transport including; air transport, road transport, rail transport, transport by pipeline and other forms of underground and land surface transport.
NTSA will also have sweeping powers to co-ordinate transportation safety activities for all forms of transport within the country.
“The Authority shall investigate ог cause to be investigated, in such detail as it shall prescribe, and determine the facts, conditions and circumstances and the cause or probable cause of any- aircraft accident; road accident; railway accident; marine accident occurring in Kenya's internal waters; pipeline accident in which there is a fatality or substantial property damage,” read the bill in part.
“It shall also investigate any other accident relating to the transportation of people or property which, in the opinion of the Authority, is catastrophic or involves problems of a recurring character,” the proposed piece of legislation reads.
If the bill is passed, the agency will have the authority to appoint investigators to probe accidents with the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Transport prescribing the qualifications.
Investigators will be required to possess skills and knowledge within a specialised area for the proper completion of investigations after accidents.
The Cabinet Secretary shall also establish an incident reporting system to facilitate collection of information on actual and potential safety deficiencies in the country.
The bill has also proposed the creation of a Fund to be known as the National Road Transport and Safety Fund which will be domiciled within the Authority.
Further, the Fund will manage money appropriated by the Parliament, levies collected; grants and donations made to the Authority; and money from a source approved by the Authority.
The Authority shall apply the money received into the Fund to conduct research activities and audits on road transport safety: conduct road safety education and awareness campaigns: implement road safety strategies, and carry out operations.
