Uhuru moves NTSA to interior ministry for easy operations

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has been moved to the Ministry of Interior and National Coordination.

The move was initiated through an executive order signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“For the efficient, expedient and coordinated discharge of the function of Road Transport and Safety, it shall be undertaken by the State Department of Interior,” the President said in the order dated January 21.

The authority had been operating under the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development.

The State Department of Transport will keep control of the national roads development policy management, mechanical and transport services.

Manage policy

It will also manage policy on axle load control. The move is the latest in a series that are aimed at ensuring road safety is given priority.

The Government will also make public details on the instant fines policy.

A task-force formed to come up with the best framework for implementing the new rules on the issue has a month to hand in its report.

It was established in September 2018 by Interior Cabinet Sectary Fred Matiang'i, his ICT colleague Joe Mucheru and James Macharia of Transport.

It is headed by Transport Principal Secretary Esther Koimett. “The task force will lead consultations with the Judiciary, NTSA and the offices of the Attorney General and Solicitor General to see that the new regulations take effect as planned,” the Ministry of Interior said in September.

The argument behind the instant fines policy is that it makes economic sense since most traffic offenders held in remand end up paying fines less than the amount the Government spends to sustain them there.

In January last year, Uhuru issued a directive that NTSA officers be withdrawn from roads, leaving the duties to traffic police, who were supposed to ensure road safety, especially on the highways.