The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) says it plans to partner with international development agencies, including the World Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to reform Kenya’s public service vehicle (PSV) system.
In an interview on June 15, NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa said the collaboration should help establish a dedicated fund that will support reforms across the public transport sector.
“Worldwide, public transport is a government-controlled service because it is a public good, and we need to get there. Getting there will be a long process, and that is a process we must start. We are having the right technical support from JICA and the World Bank, and we are creating a fund that will make sure these operators have access to the right financing,” he said.
Kondiwa added that the current PSV operating model has serious weaknesses, pointing out that repeated cases of non-compliance reveal deeper structural problems within the sector.
Regarding NTSA’s role in regulating PSVs’ roadworthiness, the director general said NTSA carries out annual inspections as required by law. However, he noted that many vehicles continue to deteriorate because operators lack the financial means to replace older fleets.
“We regularly check, but what the law requires is an annual inspection. For a vehicle that stays on the road, 12 months becomes a very long time. The biggest issue for operators comes down to capacity, especially financing capacity to renew their fleets,” Kondiwa said.
He added that NTSA wants to ensure public transport operators can access funds to upgrade their fleets at more affordable interest rates than those available in the market.
The Director General also responded to reports of reckless driving among some PSVs, including “nganyas.” He blamed weak enforcement on Kenya’s current fragmented, largely informal system.
A deadly accident on June 3 in Nairobi’s Industrial Area involving a 32-seater matatu sparked fresh calls for tougher enforcement of public transport safety rules. Witnesses said the PSV drove recklessly just moments before the crash, and passengers reportedly hung outside the vehicle as it swerved dangerously.
“It is a great risk to the public; we understand that problem, but we don’t have a shortcut,” the NTSA boss said.
Kondiwa said NTSA’s reforms aim to move Kenya toward a more structured and well-organized public transport system. He added that enforcement alone will not fix the deeper problems affecting the sector.
“What we are doing right now within the existing laws is trying to do some enforcement and compliance management. But the bigger process that I have started is to make sure that we are operating the right model. Consolidate and formalise public transport into organised, fewer operators that have the right capacity to operate public transport,” he said.
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