National Transport Safety Regulatory Authority (NTSA) has grounded 25 Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) in a crackdown launched in Kisii County.
Confirming the operation at Kisii Central Police headquarters, deputy director of the authority, Cosmas Ngeso, said that NTSA would not relent until all vehicles operating outside traffic regulations had been brought to books.
Ngeso said that the operation had been necessitated by the high number of accidents in the county which has resulted to loss of lives.
Among the offences that were found to have been committed by most PSVs was driver operating without a valid transport license.
Other offences include operating a PSV without being a member of a legally registered transport Sacco, operating vehicles not licensed by the NTASA as PSVs, especially the Toyota Probox which have become a popular form of public transport in the county.
Ngeso appealed to members of the public to desist from boarding overloaded Toyota Probox and Nissan, since they are endangering their lives.
He disclosed that his officers had discovered a low rate of compliance with traffic laws among the various PSV operators.
"PSV operators should abide by the rules and only allow the legally stipulated maximum of occupants per vehicle,” said Ngeso.
He also moved to dispel fears that the NTSA was targeting some specific operators with an aim of forcing them out of business.
"We do not bar anyone from engaging in the public transport business, but those willing to invest in it must abide by the set rules,” notes Ngeso.
The deputy director was categorical that corruption was a small but manageable challenge in the execution of the operation.
"The Ethics and Anti - Corruption Commission (EACC) is clear about how to handle cases of corruption within the public service and the police is no exception,” said Ngeso.
He further said that the operation would be extended to Kisumu in the next phase of the regulatory body's program expected t restore sanity back to the region's roads and transport industry.