Sh650m state of the art NTSA center nears completion

NTSA Inspection centre at Industrial Area Nairobi. [File,Standard]

The construction of a Sh650 million modern vehicle inspection centre at Makongeni, Thika, has gathered momentum, setting the stage for a major boost to road safety and economic growth in the region.

The facility, funded by the World Bank through the national government, is the largest of its kind in East and Central Africa and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Located just six kilometres from Thika town along the Thika-Garissa highway, the state-of-the-art centre is poised to transform vehicle inspection services, increasing capacity from the current 200 vehicles per day to over 1,000.

The move comes as the existing inspection centre within Thika town struggles to keep up with rising demand from the Mt Kenya region, Nairobi and parts of Eastern Kenya.

Engineer John Cliff Otieno, the site agent for the construction company undertaking the project, said the new facility will feature modern equipment, including driving simulators for testing drivers’ skills and offering refresher courses.

“This centre will significantly reduce congestion at the current facility while ensuring vehicles on our roads meet the highest safety standards,” said Otieno.

He added that NTSA will now be able to test drivers more thoroughly using advanced simulators, ensuring they are fit to operate vehicles on Kenyan roads.

The centre has multiple sections to ensure efficient operations and comprehensive services. It includes office spaces for administrative functions and a warehouse section equipped with five dedicated lanes for vehicle inspections.

Additionally, there is a dedicated manoeuvre yard for conducting physical tests of drivers' skills. To enhance efficiency, the centre features modern simulators for testing vehicles across all lanes.

These simulators are designed to process each vehicle in approximately three minutes, enabling the centre to serve a higher volume of vehicles from the region. This streamlined setup ensures thorough inspections and timely service delivery.

Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, who toured the site to inspect the progress over the weekend, lauded the project as a game-changer for the region.

“This inspection centre is not just about vehicle safety. It’s about creating jobs, improving local businesses and making Thika a hub for road safety,” she said.

She noted that the facility would offer employment opportunities to local youth, both skilled and unskilled and stimulate growth for surrounding businesses along the busy highway.

“The businesses around Makongeni and beyond will benefit as drivers travel from as far as Meru and other regions for vehicle inspections. This project will bring life to this area,” she said.

Residents led by Anthony Imbasia welcomed the initiative, expressing gratitude for the employment opportunities it has created during construction.

“Both men and women from this area have found jobs, and this has helped families put food on the table,” said Imbasia.

The project’s rapid progress comes ahead of President William Ruto’s highly anticipated tour of the Mt Kenya region next week where he is expected to highlight major infrastructure developments.