NTSA Suspends 7 Key Services After Court Ruling [LIST]

NTSA Director General George Njao addresses delegates at a past event.
NTSA Director General George Njao addresses delegates at a past event.
Photo
NTSA

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended seven key services from its platform barely two weeks after a court ruling.

In a notice carried in local dailies on Sunday, February 13, the authority noted that it was halting the licensing of driving schools, renewal of driving school licenses and the licensing of driving school instructors.

Other services suspended are  the renewal of driving school Instructor's licenses, Provisional Driving License (PDL) application for driver trainees, test booking for driving school instructors and driver trainees and the testing of driving school instructors and driver trainees.

In the notice, Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia and NTSA Director General George Njao revealed that they had halted the services after a court verdict that compelled them to send the new traffic rules to both the National Assembly and the Senate.

Traffic police officers stop motorist at a checkpoint. On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, NTSA issued a warning to motorists.
Traffic police officers stop motorists at a checkpoint along Nairobi - Nakuru Highway in May 2020.
Photo
NPS

The case in question had been filed by the Kenya Driving Schools Association in August 2020 arguing that there was no enough public participation before the implementation.

Whereas the Court found that sufficient public participation was done, it redirected the authority to resend the proposed rules to Parliament for thorough consideration.

"On January 27, 2022, the court held that there had been sufficient public participation and hence declined to quash the rules. However, the Court held that the rules were not properly considered by Parliament as required by the Statutory Instruments Act. No. 23 of 2013 Laws of Kenya.

"In the event that any of the Houses is unable to finalise on the rules, then the rules shall be dealt with under the next term of Parliament," read the statement in part.

On Tuesday, February 1, Kenyans.co.ke reported that NTSA had suffered reduced powers after traffic instructors' function was reverted to the National Police Service (NPS).

In the ruling, Justice Anthony Mrima directed Transport Cabinet Secretary, James Macharia, to resubmit another copy of the Traffic Rules of 2020 and explanatory memorandum to Parliament within 14 days.

He also directed the two houses to expedite the entire process of ensuring the traffic rules are well executed in the country.

The new directive issued in 2020 required the drive schools to reapply afresh for the licenses and pay Ksh30,000.

Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia speaking at KICC on March 17, 2016.
Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia speaking at KICC on March 17, 2016.
Daily Nation