NTSA Suspends Issuance, Renewal of Driving Licences

The National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced that it is suspending all services to driving schools across the country.

In a statement dated February 14, 2022, the agency stated that it is complying with court orders that require the National Assembly and Senate to review the implementation of the Traffic (Driving Schools, Driving Instructors and Driving Licences) Rules 2020.

Justice Anthony Mrima directed Ministry of Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia to refer the new guidelines to the speakers of the two parliaments within 14 days to pave way for the review.

NTSA has since stated that it submitted the laws to the two houses and suspended the implementation.

“Pursuant to the suspension and through this notice, the public is hereby notified that the NTSA has halted the services listed below in compliance with the judgement as all legal options are explored,” the notice signed by CS Macharia and NTSA Director-General George Njao stated..

Services suspended by NTSA include; licensing of driving schools, licensing driving school instructors and renewing driving school instructors’ licences.

Others include; provisional driving licence applications, test booking for driving school instructors and driver trainees, and testing of driving school instructors and trainee drivers.

Driving school owners have since raised concerns over the directive, terming it as punitive.

Kenya Driving Schools Association chairperson Samuel Kamau argued that the directive is aimed at punishing them and Kenyans at large.

“The NTSA is not honest in its actions. By shutting down the system, their aim is to punish us for going to court to challenge their illegal rules,” he said.

Kamau argued that the government should allow other agencies that existed before the takeover by the NTSA to continue providing the services before the rules are considered by Parliament.