Police: NTSA should never have been on the roads

Assistant Inspector General of Police Charles Owino has lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta’s move to order National Transport and Safety Authority officers off the road saying that it is duty of the police to enforce traffic laws and not the agency’s.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s Citizen Extra Show on Wednesday morning, Mr. Owino said that President Kenyatta’s directive will restore order to the transport sector because NTSA agents should have never been on the roads in the first place.

“It is the duty of the police to enforce laws. The law is clear is says it is the duty of the police to administer breathalyzer tests to motorists. The law also says that it is only the police who can flag down drivers for speeding,” said Mr. Owino.

While admitting that the two agencies should work together, the spokesperson said that road carnage in the past few months has been caused by negligence on the part of motorists.

“For far too long we have allowed the culture of impunity on our roads. For instance when a motorist leaves his house without a driver’s license and with an unroadworthy vehicle and when they are caught they bribe their way out of it then it means we must take responsibility for this,” said Mr. Owino.

Owino further said that Saccos have a role to manage their members.“Saccos have a duty to ensure there is compliance by their members failure to which they are suspended.”

His sentiments were echoed by David Kiarie the chairperson of the Road Safety Association of Kenya who said NTSA did not have enough officers to enforce traffic rules.

“NTSA could not enforce traffic rules and that’s a fact. They have been coming up with good policies but there was no one to enforce them. We laud the president’s directive,” said Mr. Kiarie.