The League of Drivers and Commuters Association (LoDDCA) is calling for the disbandment of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) board and management over the surge in road accidents across the country.
According to LoDDCA, NTSA has failed to guarantee the country's safety, on the roads which is a failure of its mandate.
“As a key stakeholder and advocate for road safety, LoDDCA demands immediate action from the Ministry with the first being the disbandment of NTSA's current management and board due to their failure to fully execute their mandate to ensure road safety," stated LoDDCA.
Further, the organisation has stated that there was a multi-agency meeting involving key stakeholders, from which the recommendations have failed to be implemented.
“Despite our prior expressions of concern regarding the National Transport and Safety Authority's (NTSA) apparent neglect of its duties in ensuring road safety, we regret to note a continued lack of decisive action,” lamented LoDDCA.
The Drivers’ Association is now demanding that the government ensure that the agency implements the proposals as they would contribute towards reducing carnage on Kenyan roads.
Additionally, they have mourned the Kenyatta University Students who passed on in a grisly accident on Monday, March 18.
LoDDCA’s push comes at a time when the country has lost more than 20 lives in a period of three days.
On Tuesday, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen reversed an order issued by former President Uhuru Kenyatta ordering NTSA officers off the road.
Murkomen also noted that the government would create a bureau to investigate accidents in the country. Drivers will also be required to undertake medical examinations before issuance of driving licenses.
"Having consulted with my Interior and National Coordination colleague, Prof. Kithure Kindiki, we are going to establish a mechanism where the previous directive to remove NTSA from enforcement will be vacated and a collaborative regime between NTSA and NPS will be put in place for a more efficient enforcement," read part of the statement.
Further directives from the government include that school buses should have CCTV cameras fitted in them to monitor how students are driven.
