Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen on Tuesday, July 4, released several regulations his ministry proposed to curb the rise of road accidents in the country.
Speaking in Kericho County, the CS noted that all Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) as well as school buses and vans must be fitted with dashboard cameras and vehicle telematics.
"Telematics will have a GPS system showing where a vehicle will be at any particular time, it will have a black box recorder that will be transmitting the speed of every vehicle at every time.
"It will show the location of every vehicle and show when and who maintained the vehicle. It will show where the vehicle was serviced and who serviced the vehicle," he stated.
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Murkomen noted that the dashboard cameras ought to have a link to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) site and all government ministries must access the service at a touch of a button where a vehicle will be. The cameras will be fitted infront and at the back of the vehicle.
"All the Saccos must be enrolled in the application so that when you carry a child heading to Nairobi, the application can show where it is at any given time and the speed at which it is going, as well as details of the driver," he stated.
While alluding to the prices of the dashboard cameras, Murkomen noted that the cameras will not exceed Ksh30,000.
"If you will spend Ksh30,000 and below to fit this equipment, let it be, we will save many lives," Murkomen asserted.
Murkomen noted that the Ministry would provide access to markets that would be located away from the road. He gave the timelines that the move would be completed within six months.
The Transport CS reiterated that all PSVs would undergo mandatory inspection and review the frequency of inspection of the vehicles. While referring to the Londiani junction tragedy, Murkomen noted that the trailer had inspection issues in Rwanda but was still allowed entry into the country.
"I will have a meeting with my counterpart in Rwanda to find a way to harmonise East Africa Community (EAC) inspection and driver licensing standards so that this applies to all roads in the region," he indicated.
He noted that the government was in the final stages of completing the evaluation of the tender for fitting cameras along the roads.
"Before the end of this year, a number of spots will have speed cameras as well as punitive measures (instant fines) put in place. Once a motorist is caught, an instant message is sent to your phone to pay the fine. We will revoke licences of repeat offenders," he added.
The new regulations came after a truck rammed into several matatus and an open-air market in Londiani, Kericho County. Before that, the country had witnessed several crashes involving school buses and public service vehicles.
