NTSA Nabs 14-seater Matatu Carrying 30 Students, Driver Escapes

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has impounded a 14-seater matatu that was found carrying 31 students from Tharaka Nithi County.

According to NTSA, the driver of the matatu managed to escape arrest leaving the students in the matatu.

The vehicle was impounded in Meru for further action.

“Drivers and school management entrusted with the safety of our children must understand their responsibility,” said NTSA.

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This comes amid renewed efforts by the government to contain the rising cases of road accidents that continue to claim lives.

Last week, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced new measures to curb the surge in road accidents, including a directive for the return of NTSA officers to the roads.

Murkomen announced that the NTSA will immediately start enforcing road safety regulations in collaboration with the National Police Service, overturning a 2018 directive by former President Uhuru Kenyatta that had exempted the authority from this responsibility.

The CS mandated the NTSA and the police to intensify nationwide road enforcement efforts and seize unroadworthy vehicles that lack integration with the intelligent road safety management system for transmitting speed limiter data.

He also ordered the immediate reassessment of drivers operating Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and heavy commercial vehicles.