The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced a new fee structure that will see motorists pay up to 3,900 percent more for various services.
According to a notice published in the Kenya Gazette on Friday, December 8, 2023, the new charges will take effect from January 1, 2024.
Some of the services that will be affected by the hike include vehicle inspection, registration, licensing, transfer of ownership, and duplicate logbooks.
For instance, the fee for vehicle inspection will increase from Ksh 600 to Ksh 24,000, a 3,900 percent rise. The fee for registration of a new vehicle will increase from Ksh 1,000 to Ksh 10,000, a 900 percent rise. The fee for transfer of ownership will increase from Ksh 500 to Ksh 5,000, a 900 percent rise.
The NTSA said the new fees are meant to cover the cost of service delivery and enhance road safety. The authority also said it consulted with relevant stakeholders before making the decision.
However, the announcement has sparked outrage among motorists, who have accused the NTSA of being insensitive and exploitative. They have also questioned the rationale behind the exorbitant charges, especially at a time when the economy is struggling due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some of the motorists have threatened to boycott the NTSA services and stage protests to demand a reversal of the decision. They have also called on the government to intervene and stop the NTSA from implementing the new charges.
The Kenya Association of Motorists (KAM) has also condemned the move, saying it will have a negative impact on the transport sector and the cost of living. The association has urged the NTSA to review the new fees and make them affordable and reasonable.
The KAM has also warned that the new charges will encourage corruption and bribery among NTSA officials and traffic police officers, who may take advantage of the situation to extort money from motorists.
The KAM has vowed to challenge the new fee structure in court and seek an injunction to stop the NTSA from enforcing it until the matter is resolved.
