Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah on Sunday, September 18 challenged the process involved in the rollout of digital number plates.
Omtatah detailed a memo written by the Director of Registration and Licensing, which had inquired if the Authority could use direct procurement in producing the new digital number plates.
The senator further noted that it was a scheme by the NTSA to acquire the tender without following due process.
“Around August 30, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i convened a meeting in Ruiru and had samples of the digital number plates. He announced that the plates would begin operations on October 1 and people were given 18 months to obtain the plates at a cost of Ksh3,000
“What is shocking is that I received a certain memo dated September 6 addressed to the Director General from the Director of Registration and Licensing. The letter was asking for permission to use direct procurement. “If these number plates had already been made for use and samples launched, why is the need for procurement,” stated Omtatah.
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Fred Matiang’i during the launch notified citizens that the new digital number plates would apply to all automobiles and be synchronized with KRA to capture dealers who evade tax payment.
“We are doing this because we want to address the security of our country. We want to help other agencies such as KRA to function properly, uplift the financial sector and improve transparency,” Matiang’i stated at the time.
Omtatah however has sworn to petition against NTSA’s procurement process.