According to the Chairman of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Aden Noor Ali, the agency plans to involve private firms in vehicle inspections if a proposed law is passed by Parliament. This move is intended to help clear the backlog of inspections, reduce the time taken to complete inspections, and improve road safety by ensuring every vehicle on the road is roadworthy.

Currently, NTSA cannot outsource vehicle inspections to private firms, which has resulted in the agency being stretched and struggling to complete inspections on time. The proposed law, which is currently at the public participation stage, will allow the private sector to establish firms to inspect and recommend vehicles for road use.

There are only 17 Motor Vehicle Inspection Units in Kenya, which has made it difficult for the NTSA to carry out vehicle inspections efficiently. However, with the proposed changes to the law, the NTSA will be able to designate persons or firms to conduct inspections on its behalf.

In addition to involving private firms in vehicle inspections, the NTSA has also drafted regulations that will make it compulsory for all boda boda riders to enlist with saccos like matatu operators. This move is intended to regulate the boda boda sector whose popularity has grown in recent years due to the affordability of services and ability to beat traffic snarl-ups in urban centres.

Motorists who breach the regulations will be subject to a fine not exceeding Sh1 million, six years in jail, or both. The NTSA has also automated its services by creating a photo database of inspected vehicles to address cases of altering inspection certificates. This involves taking photographic images of both the interior and exterior of the vehicle during inspection to ensure that any alterations made can be detected.