The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) board on Monday, April 24, sent the Director General(DG) George Njao on 30 days of compulsory leave.
In an address to the press, the board stated that it needed to conduct a thorough investigation into the increasing cases of accidents across the country in the past 30 days.
The board further revealed that it had formed a committee to spearhead the investigations.
Cosmas Ngeso was appointed as acting Director General for the 30-day period until the next general meeting.
"We have granted our Director General 30 days of leave to investigate some of the information we require until the board decides otherwise.
"For investigations, an ad-hoc committee has been formed. Meanwhile, Cosmas Ngeso is the acting DG, and we will deliberate and decide how to proceed at the next general meeting," the board stated.
The Authority, in a separate statement, noted that it was conducting a thorough cleaning exercise to ensure that only legally issued inspection certificates and driving licences were recognised.
Members of NTSA staff who went against the stated protocols while issuing licences were also put on notice and will be disciplined severely.
"Further to this, the board shall take immediate and severe disciplinary action against members of staff who will issue an inspection certificate and or road service licence and or driving licence and driving licence(DL) endorsement to any vehicle and driver without laid down procedures," NTSA stated.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on April 19 issued a directive to all Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and commercial drivers to undergo mandatory driving retests as a measure to combat the increasing number of road accidents.
He further stated that the government would install cameras on major highways with command centres to monitor footage of drivers going against the law and the footage would be used to arrest and fine the drivers.
According to the latest report by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) released on Monday, April 3, 1,070 people lost their lives in the first three months of 2023.
The number of deaths was attributed to speeding vehicles, crossing at undesignated places, distracted driving or walking and drunk driving.
