CRISIS AT NTSA AS TRANSPORTERS COUNT LOSSES FOLLOWING DELAYS IN ISSUANCE OF NEW VEHICLE

#kurunzinews Delays by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to issue new vehicle number plates has led to a crisis as transporters continue to count losses. Those affected are commercial transporters and even individuals who now find they cannot put their newly purchased vehicles on the roads without number plates. Daniel Kimani, the Chairman Shammah Transporters which deals with commercial trucks says owners under their sacco are counting losses as their vehicles cannot be allowed on the road without number plates, yet the owners have paid for the same. Kimani also described the situation as risky, saying should a vehicle be stolen or get involved in an accident, it becomes difficult to get compensation from insurers. "The makeshift number plates drawn by marker pens or printed on paper are not legal, even the traffic police do not want to see them," said the official. He also explained how truck owners are having problems acquiring logbooks as a result of the delays in issuance of vehicle number plates. He added their members risk having their vehicles auctioned as many of them acquired them through bank loans, yet they are not bringing any earnings. According to David Kiarie, the Chairman Road Safety Association of Kenya, the crisis is as a result of the e-citizen payment method, where the money does not go to NTSA directly. Kiarie, while terming the situation as a form of a "state capture", called on the Treasury to release the funds forthwith as the contractor who makes number plates cannot continue to operate without being paid. "We commend the current NTSA leadership under the new Director General for working to streamline the transport sector, but in the case of issuance of number plates, the blame lies squarely on the Treasury," Kiarie stated. He said car dealers should be allowed to pay for the number plates directly to NTSA or the contractor, noting that the delay amounts to economic sabotage. At the same time, the safety official also expressed concern over a recent accident involving a minibus that killed five young people in Nairobi, yet no action was taken on the operators. #kurunzi #kurunzitv https://kurunzinews.com   / kurunzike      / @kurunzinews   https://x.com/kurunzi_news   / kurunzinewsllc