This archive report was first published on 15 September 2019.
On September 15, 2019, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) made a significant U-turn on a directive to Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators to fit their vehicles with speed governors that relay data in real-time to its database.
The directive, aimed at taming road accidents, had been given to PSV operators in November 2018, with a deadline of March 1, 2019. The deadline was later extended to June and then to August 5, 2019.
Outgoing NTSA director-general Francis Meja clarified that PSVs will only be expected to comply with the new rule when going for inspection, stating, "It's a gradual process. All vehicles will be expected to comply when going for inspection."
However, a source within NTSA revealed that due to lack of enforcement mechanism, matatu owners are renewing old licences at Sh5,000, with some displaying permits on the windscreen but without the physical gadget installed.
Contrary to claims that the delay in introducing new speed limiters was caused by NTSA officers, Road Safety Association of Kenya chairman David Kiarie Njoroge refuted the allegations, stating that some gadgets are yet to fully undergo testing by the authority.
Mr. Njoroge emphasized that dealers should give NTSA time to authenticate and test the remaining gadgets, adding that the work done by NTSA so far is commendable and the gains made shouldn't be eroded just because "a few greedy individuals" want to rush and start doing businesses.
The upgraded speed limiters have Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards that can transmit data on the speed, location, driver, and sacco the vehicle belongs to, and will be linked to drivers' smart licences.
Guidelines outlined by NTSA, Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs), and the State Department of Infrastructure last year required all PSVs above the 3.5 tonnage to install tamper-proof speed limiters synchronized with the authority's servers.
The revised speed limiting device standards KS 2295:2018 is an improved version of the first edition KS 2295:2011, which came into effect on April 1, 2014, and is now null and void.
