Today, this blog focuses on NTSA and its failures.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) was created with a noble purpose: to bring order, safety, and efficiency to Kenya’s transport sector. From digitizing services to enforcing road safety, NTSA was expected to simplify processes and safeguard lives. Sadly, years later, what Kenyans see is inefficiency, corruption, and tragic consequences that should never have been allowed.
1. Failure to Implement the NTSA Act
The NTSA Act provides a strong legal framework, yet the authority has failed to implement it fully. This neglect has created a double tragedy endangering both passengers and drivers.
- Passengers are left to face unsafe vehicles, rising road fatalities, and preventable deaths.
- Drivers are subjected to exploitation, long hours, and harsh targets that push them into fatigue, poor mental health, and unsafe driving.
- Corruption has flourished, with some drivers obtaining licenses without even basic knowledge of the Highway Code.
When unsafe vehicles meet overworked drivers, the result is predictable: avoidable accidents and preventable deaths.
2. Rising Fatalities: Unsafe Toyota Hiace H200 Series
On 27th and 28th September 2025, Kenya witnessed back-to-back tragedies when two Toyota Hiace H200s an ambulance and a PSV matatu were involved in separate accidents. The outcome was devastating: 20 lives lost, nearly 98% of the passengers.
This was no freak accident. The Hiace H200 series was originally designed for cargo, not passengers. Its weak structure cannot withstand crashes, making it a death trap when used as a matatu. Yet NTSA has allowed it to dominate public transport.
A safer alternative exists the Toyota Hiace H300 series, designed with reinforced passenger safety standards. But NTSA has failed to enforce its adoption, leaving Kenyans vulnerable.
3. Leadership Failure and Overstay
At the core of NTSA’s failures is poor leadership.
- George Njao, appointed DG in November 2019 for a three-year term, has overstayed since his tenure expired in 2022 contrary to the law.
- Cosmas Ngeso, Director of Licensing, has failed to ensure credible driver licensing and safe vehicle registration.
Their inability to enforce the NTSA Act, regulate unsafe vehicles, and safeguard both passengers and drivers has cost Kenyans their lives. These leaders must be investigated, held accountable, and compelled to step down.
4. Broken Systems and the Way Forward
NTSA’s inefficiency extends beyond road safety into its day-to-day services. Smart licenses, logbooks, and number plates are delayed for months, systems remain unreliable, and corruption thrives as brokers exploit desperate Kenyans.
To regain public trust, NTSA must:
- Fully implement the NTSA Act without compromise.
- Overhaul leadership and enforce accountability.
- Phase out unsafe Hiace H200s and encourage safer Hiace H300 adoption.
- Protect drivers’ welfare with fair hours, mental health support, and regulation.
- Modernize IT systems to deliver efficient, transparent services.
Final Thoughts
The deaths of 20 Kenyans in just two days are not isolated tragedies they are the inevitable result of NTSA’s failure. Every delay, every ignored reform, every leadership lapse translates directly into lost lives.
Kenyans must demand accountability. NTSA must act—and its leadership must go.
