The Digital Speed Governors

By Michael Wesonga

Kenya: The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have downplayed the claims there was shortage of digital speed governors in the country.

NTSA official Boney Otieno arguing that the Transport Minister engineer Michael Kamau did not gazette the vendors but rather the specification of the gadget as has been the case in the past.

Otieno therefore insisted that all interested parties including Saccos were capable of importing gadgets that complied with the gazette specifications.

 “The operators cannot claim to be ambushed because they had a three months grace period to comply with the new traffic rules gazette in December 17th 2013,” he explained.

He noted the exercise in all major towns and highways throughout the country as we seek to enforce the new traffic rules because operators had been notified well in advance to comply by 31st March 2014.

“We are removing number plates for speeding vehicles and those without the Transport Licensing Board sticker whereas those without four Sacco stickers at the back, front and either sides charged on spot cash bail.

Otieno said they were only being a bit lenient to multi-colored Passenger Service Vehicles that are issued with a notice to comply.

Eldoret Matatu Owners Association has demanded the alignment of traffic laws across the board in various counties.

Chris Wanyonyi and Eldoret Matatu owner complained over different application of the same laws by various base commanders.

He noted that the various commanders in Eldoret, Webuye, Bungoma, turbo, Kisumu and Kakamega where the vehicles operate have different interpretation and or selective interpretation of the law that was tantamount to bullying.

“Some are even asking for the telephone number on the vehicle whereas the number is printed on the receipt,” he said.

Wanyonyi welcomed the National Transport and Safety Authority tour of the area but cautioned against paralyzing the sector arguing there was shortage of the speed governors in the country.

“The new specification are very rare in the market further more local factories are demanding a pre-order before they engage in the actual manufacturing of the gadgets.

Eldoret Base Commander Humphrey Abai said they had inspected more than 20 vehicles at the Eldoret Western Matatu Termini.

“Confiscated number plates TLB are returned to the director of motor vehicle inspection and it is on the discretion of the owner to follow up the matter after meeting the specifications,” he stated.

Consequently noting that those confiscated because of the speed governors are cleared at the Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit.

Another matatu owner Anne Rotich advised the authority to be flexible in implementing the laws gradually because the industry was a source of revenue and employment for the government.