The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Jubilee Party presidential hopeful Fred Matiang’i has called for the suspension of the National Transport and Safety Authority’s (NTSA) proposed mandatory annual vehicle inspection programme, arguing that it has been introduced without adequate public participation.
The proposed policy would require vehicle owners to pay Sh2,000 annually for inspections, a move Matiang’i says will place an unnecessary financial burden on Kenyans already struggling with the high cost of living.
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In a statement issued on Sunday, the Jubilee Party deputy leader acknowledged that improving road safety is a legitimate national goal but insisted that any policy aimed at achieving it must be transparent, evidence-based, and considerate of the economic challenges facing citizens.
According to Matiang’i, motorists are already grappling with rising fuel prices, multiple taxes and levies, higher insurance costs, expensive spare parts, parking fees, licensing charges, and other increasing living expenses.
He argued that introducing another compulsory annual payment without clearly demonstrating its necessity would further strain households and businesses.
Matiang’i urged the government to immediately suspend the planned rollout and subject the proposal to a comprehensive public review, saying the issue also raises constitutional concerns regarding the exercise of public authority.
He maintained that government policies should always be implemented reasonably, proportionately, and in the public interest rather than being viewed as another avenue for generating revenue.
The former Interior Cabinet Secretary also called on Parliament to scrutinize the proposed inspection programme and require NTSA to present all supporting evidence before implementation.
In addition, he urged Kenyans to reject the proposal in its current form and instead advocate for a road safety framework that is transparent, affordable, and supported by evidence.
Matiang’i further challenged NTSA to provide answers to several concerns raised by the public, including the number of private vehicles likely to be affected and the amount of revenue the government expects to collect annually from the programme.
He also questioned whether there is sufficient evidence to prove that mandatory annual inspections for vehicles older than four years would significantly reduce road accidents.
According to Matiang’i, NTSA should explain what proportion of road crashes is caused by mechanical defects compared to factors such as reckless driving, speeding, drunk driving, poor road design, inadequate maintenance, traffic congestion, and weak enforcement of existing traffic laws.
He also sought clarification on whether the authority has adequate inspection capacity to efficiently serve millions of motorists without creating long delays or increasing opportunities for corruption.
The Jubilee Party leader further demanded that NTSA outline safeguards to prevent the inspection exercise from becoming a source of harassment and rent-seeking.
He emphasized that improving road safety should not revolve around collecting inspection fees but should instead be guided by credible data, proper policy analysis, cost-benefit assessments, and a clear implementation plan.
Matiang’i concluded that if the government is genuinely committed to reducing road fatalities, it must comprehensively address the leading causes of accidents rather than focusing solely on vehicle inspections.
