NTSA Flags as Fake New Hefty Penalties for Drivers and Passengers

You might have seen a revised list of 25 minor traffic offences making rounds online. The list spells out penalties in the event of a violation of these rules. 

For instance, the revised list set a fine of Ksh7,000 for driving without a valid license in respect of the vehicle class up from the normal Ksh3,000.

Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday, January 7 embarked on a fact-finding mission by speaking to a source at the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) who informed us that the list being circulated in the online space, especially in WhatsApp groups, is false and should be disregarded. 

The employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity,  stated that the list is part of a cyclic occurrence that happens at the end of December and the beginning of every year.

“It is not legitimate. It makes rounds every December and January. Ignore it,” Our source told us exclusively.

The source further stated that the legitimate list of traffic (minor offences) rules was outlined in The Traffic Act as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya 2010. 

Upon comparing the traffic (minor offences) rules in the Constitution and the revised list circulating online, Kenyans.co.ke established that indeed there was a discrepancy in the legal guidelines and the novel list.  

For example, failure by the owner of a vehicle to have seat belts in a motor vehicle as prescribed in Rule 22A(1) imposes a fine of Ksh1,000 for every seat that is not fitted or is not of the proper standard or specification. However, under the revised list the fine is set at Ksh10,000 per substandard seat or lack thereof.

The Constitution outlines a fine of Ksh5,000 for persons found guilty of driving a PSV without proper qualifications. However, the revised list had set a fine of Ksh7,000.

For allowing an unauthorised person drive a PSV, the revised catalogue listed a fine of Ksh5,000 up from Ksh3,000 as captured in the Kenyan Constitution.

Picking and dropping off passengers at undesignated stops typically attracts a fine of Ksh3,000 as per constitutional guidelines but this was revised downwards to Ksh1,000 in the new list. 

The revised rules touch upon various traffic offences including speed-related offences, vehicle and driving compliance, additional offenses, and safety violations. Offenses such as touting, traveling with any body part outside a moving vehicle, and ignoring traffic signs are captured.

With the new information, Kenyans have been urged to take note and adhere to traffic rules as per the Constitution and not from nondescript sources.