President Uhuru Kenyatta has this afternoon ordered the National Transport and Safety Authority off roads.
This comes after a spike in road carnage despite the NTSA being given tools and authority to curb errant behaviour on roads.
In a twist, there has been  sustained public outcry over the body, with motorists accusing it’s officials for lacking integrity and causing accidents.
Case in point is an accident that took place along the notorious Salgaa stretch late last year.
Eye witnesses reported that a truck driver who was on a high speed chase with NTSA officials lost control of his vehicle and rammed onto incoming traffic, resulting in mass casualties.
NTSA was also on the spot over the night travel ban after the grisly accident which occur at Migaa area.
Most criticized the body for knee-jerk reaction which led to chaos and inconveniences at bus stops across the country.
NTSA officials have severally been accused of extortion along major highways.
Victims report that the officials tamper with the speed guns to give wrong readings, which they cite and use to extort bribes from unknowing victims.
In some cases NTSA officials have been captured on camera flouting the very rules they are supposed to enforce.
Kenya Police traffic officers have been ordered to take over the role of enforcing traffic rules.
NTSA will now be mandated with tasks such as vehicle inspection, issuance of licences among others.
However, Kenyans are sharply divided over the directive. While some are in support, others feel that the buck stops with errant drivers and rogue vehicle owners.
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Here are some reactions from Twitter users:
Nothing to celebrate >> PRESIDENT UHURU Kenyatta directs that all NTSA officers be withdrawn from roads and that traffic police take over duties on Kenyan highways. Police on the road is also part of the problem.
— JASIGANA (@Jasigana254) January 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/EricKim20930915/status/950713895236218880?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Em5%7Ctwgr%5Eemail%7Ctwcon%5E7046%7Ctwterm%5E3
NTSA was taking vague measures in an attempt to blind us. Now that most accidents take place during the day, why didn't they ban day time travels? traffic menace need 2 be dug deep from the roots with cartels & corrupt officials involved & finally crowned by our reckless drivers
— Wallace Gich (@ItsGichmash) January 9, 2018
Even with the removal of NTSA from our roads, who will bring back sanity? Don't forget that the same traffic cops will take 50bob and let overspeeding, overloaded and unroadworthy vehicles ply our roads.
— PRSA (@PRSA_Roadsafety) January 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/WTereh/status/950713751518445568?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Em5%7Ctwgr%5Eemail%7Ctwcon%5E7046%7Ctwterm%5E3
But at-least the Accidents had gone down since NTSA Took over the Roads.Traffic Police men are so Corrupt and Inefficient hence the Rampant accidents as all they do is to collect 50 & 100 bob notes from motorists.
— Joab (@joabkotieno) January 9, 2018
Dangerous driving and unroadworthy vehicles is what causes accidents. How does Uhuru Kenyatta removing NTSA officers from our roads reduce accidents?
— Steve🫶(Taylor’s version) (@beeniey_4) January 9, 2018
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