Minister vows to crack whip at NTSA to curb fraud cases

Interior CS Fred Matiangi (from 2nd left) Interior Permanent Secretary Karanja Kibichu,Police Inspector Joseph Boinet and National Transport ,Safety Authority (NTSA) Director General Francis Meja and other officials after the meeting with the new NTSA Board at the NTSA offices in Nairobi. [Elvis Ogina.Standard]

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has promised to “clean up the mess” at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). 

The authority has been in the limelight over claims of double registration of vehicles.

The CS on Tuesday visited the NTSA offices and met with the management.

Dr Matiang’i said he would tomorrow meet with the new board to deliberate on restructuring the institution. 

“This organisation needs restructuring. I am looking forward to meeting the new board and discussing how to reorganise it to meet purpose and expectations so as to instil public confidence,” said Matiang’i. 

The CS will meet the NTSA board alongside representatives from the office of the Attorney General, the Finance ministry and the National Police Service. 

The CS, who apologised for the wrongdoing at NTSA, said the restructuring would be brutal and asked those who would be affected to expect “little mercy".

“It (fraud) will not happen again. We will shake it to the bone marrow,” said Matiang’i, adding that President Uhuru Kenyatta was keen on the matter. “We shall do what must be done to correct gaps. We have nothing to fear.”

Transport CS James Macharia named new NTSA board members on Monday.