The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has rolled out a licence revalidation exercise for tow truck operators, motor vehicle dealers, and repair shops, setting the stage for a comprehensive crackdown on unregulated players in the industry.
The process, announced through a notice in MyGov on Tuesday, October 15, will run from November 11 to November 22, with a strict deadline of November 6, for stakeholders to submit their validation requests.
NTSA’s Director General George Njao confirmed that the revalidation would involve a thorough review of documentation and a physical inspection of business premises by a Multi-Agency team to verify the submitted information. The authority is urging operators to complete the online licence revalidation form on its official website ahead of the deadline to avoid penalties.
Njao directed, “All operators are therefore directed to complete and submit an online licence revalidation form available on the NTSA Website [www.ntsa.go.ke) on or before Wednesday, 6th November 2024.”
He added, “As part of the exercise, the Multi-Agency team will conduct a physical inspection of the operators premises to verify the information submitted through the online revalidation form.”
The NTSA's mandate to regulate the motor vehicle and motorcycle industry is outlined in the Traffic Act Cap 403, which stipulates that licences and identification plates are issued to qualified dealers upon fulfilling the set requirements.
Last week, NTSA warned Kenyans against driving uninsured vehicles, stressing that those caught would face steep penalties, including impoundment, fines, or even jail time. The authority emphasised that uninsured vehicle owners would be held personally accountable for any damages in the event of an accident.
In addition, the NTSA took the opportunity to address common violations concerning vehicle ownership transfers. Under the Traffic Act, vehicles must be transferred within fourteen days of purchase, a rule that many vehicle owners have been found to overlook. Non-compliance will attract severe repercussions.
The Authority’s recent report has shed light on the frequent errors made during vehicle ownership transfers. These include; submitting logbooks that belong to other vehicles, providing copies instead of high-quality PDF scans of original logbooks, and even submitting documents that are defaced, making verification impossible. Such mistakes not only delay transactions but also expose owners to potential legal troubles.
With the November revalidation looming, NTSA is sounding a clarion call to all operators to ensure their paperwork is in order, warning that those failing to meet the requirements will not only miss out on licence renewal but may also face additional sanctions.
The move is part of a broader initiative by the NTSA to streamline the transport sector and clamp down on rogue operators who flout regulations.
