- Drivers are required to retake the test after every three years.
- It is a pre-requisite for renewal of the driving license.
Image: FILE
Drivers working in the public transport sector now have a reason to smile after their employers committed to shoulder the mandatory retesting fee.
Through the umbrella union-Kenya Transporters Association (KTA), the employers said they recognise the challenges currently bedeviling Kenyans at the lower cadre.
"As an association that values the well-being of drivers, we advise that we collectively as employers bear the cost of the driver retesting charges for each of the drivers in our employment once every three years on humanitarian grounds," a statement from the chairman Newton Wang'oo reads.
"By doing so, we would alleviate the financial burden on our drivers especially those who are already struggling to meet their daily needs."
Wang'oo noted that the gesture demonstrates their commitment to their welfare and helps mitigate the impact of the charges on their livelihoods.
The association observed that drivers are the lifeline of its businesses as they work tirelessly to ensure that operations run smoothly.
"We are doing this to safeguard the future of the industry and also uphold the spirit of compassion and empathy that defines us as Kenyans,"Wang'oo stated.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) charges Sh 1,050 for every driver that possess the public service vehicle (PSV) license.
"This is a pre-requisite for renewal of the driving license renewal," NTSA said.
Drivers are required to retake the test after every three years.
The retest application process is accessed via the driver's account accessible through NTSA's official site.
Motorists can also use the e-Citizen login credentials to sign in to the account.
In line with the new directive, drivers have the option of re-sitting the test in the event they failed.
Under clause 10, the driver undergoes a refresher training at a driving school of choice before taking the retest or upon failing the exam.
The agency issued guidelines mid last month to motorists set to retake driving tests before renewing their licenses.
The exercise started June 1.
NTSA said in a statement, a week after the process begun, that 18 percent of those tested had failed the test.
Those who failed were unable to identify road signs on diagrams pinned to the walls of the test rooms.
Others were unable to explain how to follow the rules of a model town board, which is part of the basic driving training.
This comes even as road accidents continues to surge in the country with a recent report indicating about 5, 000 lives are lost yearly.
Image: FILE