Long-distance drivers in the country have planned a national strike on Wednesday to protest against the new rules imposed by National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to have all Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and commercial vehicle drivers take mandatory re-tests.
The drivers claim that the new NTSA rules require them to undergo a new test for driving trucks, an issue they oppose and hold that it is discriminatory.
In addition, they are complaining about the bad roads in the country and harassment allegations by traffic police officers.
They have also asked the government to put in place strategies and laws to protect their interests instead of announcing short-cut laws that might spark havoc.
NTSA announced the move on June 20, noting that the periodic retest will be mandatory, conducted every three years before a driver renews their license.
“The re-test is for commercial and public service vehicle drivers and is a pre-requisite for renewal of driving licences with class endorsement(s); 83, D1, D2, D3, C, Cl. CE and CD. 2. The re-test shall be conducted every three years upon the expiry of driving licences with class endorsement (s): B3, DI, D2, D3, C, Cl. CE and CD,” said the authority in a statement.
These classes comprise drivers of commercial and school buses, matatus, and taxis.
The re-tests are set to be conducted in all NTSA Driver Test Units and drivers will be required to apply online via their e-citizen account at a fee of Ksh.1,050.
So far, NTSA Deputy Director and Head of Safety Compliance, Driver Training and Testing Wilson Tuigong has revealed that the exercise has raised concerns about the fitness of most of the drivers, as just 18 per cent of those between June 9 and June 16 had passed the written and applied theory tests.
Tuigong said out of the 302 drivers tested, only 54 had passed.
