NTSA Bans The Use Of Grafitti On Matatus

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has issued a stern directive to Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators, demanding immediate compliance with branding regulations. The move comes as the NTSA notes that certain PSVs are obscuring the names of their saccos or companies and lacking continuous yellow lines, making them indistinguishable from other vehicles and undermining public confidence.

Under the NTSA (Operation of Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 2014, all operators are legally required to boldly display the name of the sacco or company they belong to on the front, rear, and sides of their vehicles.

“Such contraventions violate the letter and spirit of the regulations and undermine public confidence in the PSV sector by creating ambiguity as to the licensed operator,” NTSA stated. The authority further highlighted that many of these vehicles fail to conspicuously display the official NTSA operational sticker or other identifying marks, hindering effective regulatory verification and enforcement.

This directive follows a series of recent road accidents involving PSVs that have resulted in fatalities and injuries. For instance, mid-month, a popular Nairobi matatu named “Uppercut,” which usually plies city routes, was involved in an accident in Tetu, Nyeri County, while on a private trip. The crash tragically killed at least one person and injured over 20 others.

“Considering the foregoing, all licensed Public Transport Operators are hereby directed to conduct an immediate and comprehensive audit of their fleets to ensure full compliance with the requirements of the Regulations,” the NTSA added.

The Authority has issued a notice for all PSV operators to take immediate corrective action. Failure to comply will result in regulatory measures against individual motor vehicle owners and operators, which may include vehicle impoundment, suspension, and revocation of licenses.