A video of a mangled Toyota Vitz being driven along Mombasa Road has puzzled Kenyans.
The clip shared on the morning of Monday showed the vehicle badly damaged on the passenger's side including the door to a section of the hood of the car. Its windscreen was also missing while the roof was broken into pieces hinting that it had been involved in a crash.
With only the driver inside, the vehicle attracted the attention of other motorists and onlookers who attempted to get a view of the man behind the wheel.
Below is the video:
Some of the road users claimed to have seen the car being driven in other parts of the country passing through roadblocks and police officer checks with no questions asked.
"How has it even accessed the highway?" one person posed insisting that it was a traffic offence.
Others, however, opined that it had been involved in an accident and was yet to get a makeover.
Kenyans therefore pointed fingers at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) as well as traffic officers for lagging in apprehending such drivers and confiscating the vehicle due to the danger it poses to other road users.
They also complained that due to the loopholes in the country's system, the car may be revamped and sold to an unsuspecting buyer who will be forced to deal with the long-term effects of the damages.
"In a few months, it will be sold in yards and the salesperson will try to convince you that it has minimal damages," one person stated.
Unfortunately, this is not the first unroadworthy vehicle to hit the road. Early this year, a matatu operating in Nairobi caught the attention of Kenyans due to its worn-out seats and rusty floors.
NTSA, shortly after, demanded the information of the vehicle to follow up. However, the move was not welcomed by Kenyans who suggested that the authority should have addressed the issue earlier.
According to the Traffic Act, motorists are banned from driving public service vehicles in dirty or neglected conditions.
NTSA this year introduced mandatory car inspection for private motorists due to the increasing cases of accidents. According to NTSA's Deputy Director in charge of Safety Strategies and County Co-ordination, private vehicles also go through wear and tear like public service vehicles.
"The general feeling across the board is that we need to have all the vehicles in the country inspected," he added.
