KIRINYAGA COUNTY: The National Transport Service Authority (NTSA) has put on notice Probox vehicle owners who are offering Public Service Transport services through the back door.
The authority said the law is crystal clear as to what types of vehicles are allowed to engage in public transport and nothing short of that.
According to the NTSA Director Mr Mathew Munyao, it has come to the notice of his Authority that some traffic police officers collude with pro-box operators to break the public service vehicle rules.
''Some traffic police officers who man the road have their private arrangements with the Probox operators while they are fully aware that these kind of vehicles are not authorized to engage in PSV business, '' he said.
Munyao said his Authority has put stringent measures to remove the illegal intruders from the PSV business countrywide.
He said he was also aware some senior officials in various County Governments especially those in the enforcement department were the ones protecting the pro-box operators.
''There is every evidence towards this and the NTSA is making consultations with the County Governors to discipline any of their officers found to be providing protection to the pro-box operators,'' he said.
Munyao however said those small vehicles wishing to venture into Taxi Cab business were free to do so provided they comply strictly with the laid down requirements
He said it was unfair for the 14 seater matatu owners to be subjected to strict compliance of the PSV requirements and to let pro-boxes have their way yet they do not comply with the rules especially the speed governors.
Munyao was speaking at the Kerugoya bus park when he led a team of officers from the NTSA to make random inspection of matatus in the area Saturday.
He also said from now henceforth even private vehicle owners who over speed within the speed limited areas will no b spared of prosecution.
''We are putting all these measures in place in an effort to reduce road carnage in our country which has over the years continued to claim many lives of innocent people.
The official further cautioned suppliers of defective speed governors of dire consequences if found citing an incident in Embu where the gadget fitted into a matatu was inoperative yet it had cost the vehicle owner a fortune.
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