Most drivers are not experienced in basic road signage, NTSA test drive reveals

Already in its third week, the drive is targeting some 32,964 PSV drivers whose licenses have expired. The drivers are required to report to the nearest NTSA Driver Test Unit and undergo theory test and practical theory application.

The re-test is being conducted in centres at Nairobi, Thika, Machakos, Nakuru, Kericho, Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu, Kakamega, Meru, Embu, Nyeri, Kisii and Garissa.

In the next few days, commercial heavy drivers will follow suit as it becomes mandatory that renewal of licenses will only be done once a driver has passed both theory and practical theory tests.

Before going for the exam, one has to book online and pay Sh1,050 through the e-citizen account. Applicants have a three-month window to sit for the retest. Once the period expires, one has to apply afresh.

Those who fail, however, are given a second chance, according to Wilson Tuikong who is NTSA's deputy director and head of Safety Compliance, Driver and Testing. This first phase of campaign is targeting holders of B1, D1, D2, D3 and D4 licenses.

A section of drivers, officials of Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK), Road Safety Association of Kenya (RSAK) and Matatu Owners Association (MWA) claim re-test drive is scheme by government to fleece drivers.

A traffic police controlling traffic in Kisumu town. [Dennish Ochieng, Standard]

As his license nears expiry, Mugendi is struggling to come to terms that he will have to sit for written and practical exams to test his competence on the road.

Ironically, while he thinks it is a waste of time, in his own admission, Mugenda has long forgotten most of what he was taught in 1999 at Vision Driving School in Mombasa where he went for training.

"We are wondering why all suddenly, NTSA is compelling us to go back to class after all those years on the road. Most of us have forgotten the syllabus; we can't remember what was taught," he says.

The man is currently with employed by Salty Sacco that plies on Eastlands routes. Having heard tales from colleagues who have undergone re-test at NTSA's Driver Test Unit along Likoni Road, Mugendi is already convinced the exercise is marred by corruption.

"I am made to understand that for you to pass the exam, one has to part with 10,000 shillings or else, examiners make sure you fail. This is just another scheme to collect money, we are appealing to President Ruto to order NTSA to stop taking us for a ride," he stated.

But Tuikong, NTSA's deputy director and head of Safety Compliance, Driver and Testing dismissed Mugendi's corruption claims, insisting that examiners are diligently doing their job.

"Of course such claims are bound to emerge and you can't stop people from saying what suits them after they fail the retest. However, I don't think our examiners have been asking for bribes," said Tuikong.

But officials of Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK), Road Safety Association of Kenya (RSAK) and Matatu Owners Association (MWA) are turning the heat up against NTSA claiming the authority is out to fleece drivers.

"Instead of addressing the real problem of systematic failure that has allowed issuance of licenses corruptly, sham inspection of PSVs and poor road designs, the government has now opened another stream of getting money from motorists," said MAK's chairperson Peter Murima.

According to Murima who warned the re-test risks being challenged in a court of law, public participation should have preceded roll-out of the exercise.

"In our view, there is no need of violating the rights of motorists by subjecting them to the retest. The approach should have been going for motorists whose driving competencies, skills, licenses and records are questionable," says Murima.

On his part, RSAK chairman David Kiarie was categorical that money is being collected from drivers under the guise of assessing them. He said were the government serious, it should have started by firmly dealing with entrenched corruption in the transport sector.

"I don't expect behavioural change after the retest, this is just a cosmetic exercise whose main objective is to squeeze money out of drivers," stated Kiarie.

Dickson Mbugua, MWA chairman, says it is a good idea but the net must be cast wide to include all motorists and other road users in general.

According to Mbugua, there are many unqualified and incompetent drivers on Kenyan roads whose permits were either bought or acquired through shortcuts.

"We welcome the retest, it should cut across the board and not appear to target a certain category of drivers. Otherwise, we shall consider targeting PSV drivers alone as selective application of the law," said Mbugua.

At Likoni Road, the drivers complained of discrimination claiming private motorists must be re-tested too.

Tom Ouma was bemused that he was being taken through the highway code yet he has been driving for the last 22 years.

"I didn't know that I was supposed to revise the traffic regulations code ahead of the retest. I came here expecting something different, but not being tested on what I have been doing on the roads," lamented Ouma.

While singling out digital taxi drivers for not being keen on the road, Tuikong says 80 per cent of the accidents are as a result of human error.

"I have personally been observing and realised that drivers operating on digital taxi platforms are ever on their mobile phones while on the steering wheel. This is a worrying habit that needs to be tamed," he noted.