Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has directed the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to clear the backlog in printing driving licenses and logbooks in two weeks.
The CS, who spoke after visiting the NTSA Inspection and Printing Centre along Likoni Road and the Headquarters in Upper hill called out poor service delivery.
Further, Murkomen noted that the situation was arising from a broken printing machine leading to about half a million pending incomplete applications.
The script mirrored passport printing situation at the Nyayo House, where Interior CS Kithure Kindiki had to make impromptu visits for the backlog to ease.
During the tour on Friday, September 22, the Transport boss directed NTSA to issue Driving Licences, logbooks, and digital number plates to citizens within two weeks as it is the Citizens rights to receive them on time.
“To my dismay, I noted that the performance at the center was below par and did not meet the expectations of the people of Kenya,” he said
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Further, he noted that the driving license printing machine has barely functioned this year, leading to a huge backlog of pending applications that await printing.
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In a statement, the CS said he would personally oversee the reforms to ensure the authority streamlines its service delivery to Kenyans.
“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,” the transport minister said.
CS Murkomen 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.
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“It is unfortunate that half a million Kenyans are still waiting for either their biometrics to be taken or their Driving Licences to be printed and issued, resulting in inconveniences and loss of job opportunities,” Murkomen noted.
He added, “Kenyans pay their hard-earned money to acquire Driving Licences, logbooks and digital number plates; it is their right to be treated with decorum, served professionally, expeditiously and with dignity.”
Murkomen further asked NTSA officials to submit a report documenting reasons for the current state of affairs, adding that he would now be holding them personally accountable for services at the Authority.
“I have instructed the management of NTSA and the Printing company to send to my office a full report on the reasons for the delays and the remedial measures they are taking to expedite the delivery of these services to Kenyans within the next 7 days,” he stated.
Subsequently the CS noted “I will hold the senior management of NTSA personally responsible and accountable for any further delays, and poor service delivery experienced from now henceforth.”
