Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has further suspended the retesting of commercial and public service vehicles (PSVs) for a period of three months.
According to Murkomen, the extension would offer his ministry adequate time to reach a consensus with stakeholders regarding the retesting of the drivers.
“This is to notify members of the public hereby that the suspension of retesting of drivers who are holders of driving licenses with class endorsement(s); B3, D1, D2, D3, C, C1, CE, and CD has been extended for a period of 3 months effective from the date of this notice,” read the notice released on Friday, October 6.
Retesting of drivers had initially begun mid-year after a directive by the transport CS in April but was later suspended after stakeholders protested the move.
Matatu drivers and owners threatened to hold demos if the government implemented the decision to retest all PSV drivers.
The initial decision to halt the re-test was expected to end in September, but with an agreement yet to be reached, drivers will wait until next year to determine their fate.
Murkomen and transport officials' main aim for conducting a retest was to curb the hike in fatalities resulting from road accidents.
Re-testing of drivers is a statutory requirement provided for under Section 30(6) of the Traffic Act.
Kenya's Traffic Act states that a driver of a public service vehicle or a commercial vehicle shall be required to undergo a driving test every three years under Section 39 as a condition to renew their license.
Driver retesting is also in line with the United Nations General Assembly resolution of September 2020 on improving global road safety, which Kenya is a signatory to.
According to the UN Notice on Road Safety Strategy, the aim is to guide United Nations bodies in working together to change old thinking and develop a new approach towards safer journeys.
