National Transport and Safety Authority issues new PSV rules

By KURIAN MUSA

KENYA: The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has released the proposed licencing regulations for Public Service Vehicles (PSV).

The Authority, led by former Nakuru Town MP Lee Kinyanjui, will license only vehicles that are part of Saccos and companies to operate as PSVs, according to the proposed new rules.

But the corporate bodies will have to comply with set rules, a stake holders forum in Nairobi was told.

Unveiling the regulations, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure Michael Kamau said the new regulations will work in tandem with the ‘Michuki rules’.

Kamau expressed optimism about the rules, saying: “We should have effected them Tuesday but we have to be facilitative rather than obstructive while implementing the rules that will come bit by bit.”

They will, therefore, come into effect from July 1, 2014, to allow time for stakeholders’ proposals on amendments to the rules to be taken into account.

Kamau observed that the current proposals only apply to PSVs, but said they are not the only ones that cause road accidents.

Investors will have to be the registered owners of at least 30 serviceable vehicles to be licensed. On the other hand, matatu operators will need at least 25 serviceable vehicles under contract for them to be licensed.

PSV owners will have to provide evidence of compliance with laws on minimum labour standards, statutory deductions, tax, health and safety at work.

An office and management system from where all the activities will be answerable on demand will be required.

The operators will also have to operate a cashless or other pre-paid payment system.

Matatu operators will pick and drop passengers only at designated points. The operator will also display an identification sticker approved by the Authority adhering to the approved schedules, timetables and routes.

Professor Albert Mumma told the Stakeholders Consultation in Nairobi that a code of conduct and a customer complaints handling system will be an essential. Flouting the rules will attract a penalty of Sh100,000 or imprisonment not exceeding a year, or both.

“Clients will be able to lodge their complaints with the NTSA, the police, or even the Sacco authorities to take action against anyone who flouts the rules,” the university official, who drafted the proposal, explained.