President Uhuru Kenyatta in a past event. He has been faulted over his order to have NTSA officers withdrawn from the roads. [Photo/citizen.co.ke]
Kibwezi East MP Jessica Mbalu has faulted President Uhuru Kenyatta’s order to have the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTASA) officers withdrawn form the roads.
The MP observes that the move could increase cases of traffic police soliciting for bribes from motorists and road users.
The lawmaker notes that the presence of NTSA officers on the roads had greatly reduced cases of bribes on the roads.
Mbalu said that while NTSA had failed to tame road accidents on the roads, its presence has brought some discipline.
She said that ordering them out of the roads completely was not wise noting a proper decision should have been taken.
“I think their removal was too haste because we cannot condemn them completely. Their presence has reduced cases of bribery,” she told journalists in Kibwezi Town on Wednesday.
The MP while noting rise in road accidents in the recent days said that the solution is to encourage collaboration among the stakeholders in the road transport.
She said that implementation of road policies remains a key issue contributing largely to road carnage in the country.
On Tuesday, President Kenyatta ordered with immediate effect withdrawal of NTSA officers from the roads. The President directed traffic police officers to take charge of the roads henceforth.
Uhuru’s order has been lauded by majority of stakeholders who note that it will curb rising accidents.