Murkomen condemns backlog at NTSA
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has been directed to clear the current backlog in the printing of driving licenses, logbooks, and digital number plates within two weeks.
They are also expected to notify Kenyans of their nearest collection points.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen issued the directives, as he instructed the NTSA management and the printing company to send to his office a full report on reasons for delays and remedial measures they are taking to expedite delivery of these services to Kenyans within the next seven days.
"I will hold the senior management of NTSA personally responsible and accountable for any further delays and poor service delivery experienced from now on. Kenyans pay their hard-earned money to acquire driving licenses, logbooks, and digital number plates, and it is their right to be treated with decorum and served professionally, expeditiously, and with dignity," Murkomen said on Friday.
The CS termed it unfortunate that half a million Kenyans are still waiting for either their biometrics to be taken or driving licenses to be printed and issued, resulting in inconveniences and the loss of job opportunities.
Murkomen dismayed
He made the remarks after visiting the NTSA Inspection and Printing Centre along Likoni Road and their headquarters in Upperhill to assess the status of service delivery.
"To my dismay, I noted that the performance at the centre was below par and did not meet the expectations of the people of Kenya," he regretted.
He said the driving licence printing machine has barely functioned this year, leading to a huge backlog of pending applications that await printing.
Similarly, he said that at NTSA Headquarters, he witnessed another backlog occasioned by delays in the printing and delivery of digital number plates.
Additionally, the CS stated that the absence of a digital system has made it impossible for customers to know where and when to collect their number plates, putting them in a perpetual state of waiting.
"To quickly resolve this issue, I will personally supervise the processing, printing, and delivery of driving licenses, logbooks, and digital number plates, starting today, to ensure Kenyans get better services and value for money," he affirmed.
