Jubilee Presidential hopeful Fred Matiang’i is now demanding that the planned mandatory annual inspections at a cost of Sh2,000 per vehicle be shelved.
The Jubilee Party deputy leader argues that the planned rollout is being implemented without sufficient public participation.
He said that whereas road safety is a legitimate national objective and every Kenyan wants safer roads, fewer accidents and vehicles that meet acceptable safety standards, the process must be transparent.
“Public policy must be evidence-based, proportionate, transparent and sensitive to the economic realities facing citizens. The proposed inspection regime fails that test,” Matiang’i says.
In a statement issued on Sunday morning, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary said Kenyans are already burdened by high fuel prices, multiple taxes and levies, rising insurance premiums, expensive spare parts, parking charges, licensing fees and an increasing cost of living.
“Introducing another compulsory annual payment without demonstrating its necessity places yet another financial burden on households and businesses that are already under immense pressure. Road safety is essential. Excessive financial extraction is not,” he said.
“We therefore call upon the Government to immediately suspend the implementation of this directive and subject it to a comprehensive public review. This is also a constitutional issue. Public power must always be exercised reasonably, proportionately and in the public interest. Citizens should never be treated merely as sources of revenue.”
He said the Jubilee Party is urging Parliament to subject the policy to immediate scrutiny and require NTSA to table all supporting evidence before implementation proceeds.
“We call upon all Kenyans to reject this policy in its current form and to demand a transparent, evidence-based and affordable road safety framework that protects both lives and livelihoods.”
Matiang’i wants the National Transport and Safety Authority to respond to concerns raised by the public on the planned inspection.
“Specifically, Kenyans deserve clear answers to the following questions: How many active private vehicles will be affected by this policy? How much revenue does the Government expect to collect annually?”
He also wants NTSA to show what evidence demonstrates that annual inspections for vehicles older than four years will significantly reduce road accidents.
“What proportion of road crashes in Kenya is attributable to mechanical defects, compared with human error, poor road engineering and traffic congestion? Does NTSA currently have sufficient inspection capacity to serve millions of motorists efficiently without creating long delays and opportunities for corruption?”
Matiang'i further wants NTSA to explain what safeguards have been put in place to ensure that this programme does not become another avenue for rent-seeking and harassment of motorists.
“Road safety cannot be reduced to the collection of inspection fees. Before imposing mandatory costs on citizens, the government must publish the data, the policy analysis, the cost-benefit assessment and the implementation plan that justify such a far-reaching decision,” he added.
If the government is genuinely committed to saving lives, Matiang’i maintained, it must address the major causes of road accidents comprehensively.
“These include reckless driving, speeding, drunk driving, poor road design, inadequate road maintenance, weak enforcement of existing traffic laws and traffic congestion. Vehicle condition is only one part of a much larger road safety strategy.”
