Benson Mwenda the Chairperson of the Matatu Transport Vehicle Association on Thursday, July 6, explained why most drivers failed the mandatory retesting initiated by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
In a media interview, Mwenda complained that those conducting the exercise forced the drivers to identify road signs in English.
"How can you ask the driver to state the meanings of all signs in English? Some know the signs in their native language and Kiswahili," he added.
According to the chairperson, some of the tests the drivers were subjected to were outdated.
"Some of these drivers have been on the road for over 25 years, how do you expect them to recall everything taught while at driving school," Mwenda posed.
He emphasised that driving experience is not gained in the driving school but on the road. Mwenda used trailer drivers as examples, of how the classroom training is different from the road experience.
"We asked one of the officials to demonstrate how a trailer is driven, but he was not fully proficient. It takes being on the road to know how to maneuver," Mwenda explained.
Furthermore, the chairperson questioned who will retrain the drivers who have been on the road for 30 years since some of the examiners have never driven a trailer.
He suggested that the retraining process was not necessary adding that if NTSA was keen on equipping the drivers with the right experience, they should take them abroad to learn from other drivers.
"There are no better drivers than those from Kenya that is why they are employed abroad," he stated.
Additionally, Mwenda suggested that NTSA should offer drivers a certificate after 10 years, a diploma after 15 years, a degree after 25 years, and after retirement, they should be listed as driving teachers.
Instructively, he criticised political leaders for what he described as initiating knee-jerk reactions after tragedies citing the Londiani accident that killed over 50 people and left others injured.
"We should learn from that accident, erect bumps and concrete barriers to make sure traders are protected," he added.
Mwenda also poked holes in Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen's directive to install dashcams on vehicles. He complained that the directive did not have a proper implementation framework.
He contended that it was unjust to burden drivers with the expenses of dash cams and proposed that the government should provide and install cameras in all vehicles at no cost, with drivers responsible for the subsequent fittings.
Conclusively, he urged the public to report cases of rogue drivers on the road urging them to avoid boarding full vehicles.
"Share the complaint online or with the relevant authorities so we can deal with them. We have so many drivers and they can't all be good," he added.
