NTSA Defends Restriction of Portal Offering Crucial Services

An image of citizens getting services at NTSA offices
An image of citizens getting services at NTSA offices on February 17, 2019.
Photo
NTSA

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has revealed that it closed a portal offering crucial services pending the determination of the new set of rules currently before Parliament.

In a statement to newsrooms dated Friday, April 1, the authority explained that it was constrained from implementing the rules through the portal.

This comes after the Kenya Driving Association filed a petition seeking the suspension of the implementation of the rules on the grounds that no public participation took place.

The Court, however, failed to quash the rules noting that there was enough public participation but directed that they be tabled before Parliament.

Vehicles awaiting inspection at the NTSA centre.
Vehicles awaiting inspection at the NTSA centre.

"The Court however halted the implementation of the Rules pending the presentation of the same to both houses of Parliament. The Authority in compliance with the said court order closed the portal which implements the rules. The Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development in compliance with the court order re-transmitted the Rules to both houses of Parliament.

"The said Rules are currently under consideration and the Authority is therefore constrained from implementing the said Rules via the portal as this will be in contravention of the said order," read the statement in full.

Some of the affected services include 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.

The court had also directed that in case the House fails to finalise the matter, it would be transferred to the next Parliament after August polls.

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.

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

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