NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 23- A BBC exposé has left heads rolling at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), after deep-rooted corruption among its officials and rogue driving schools was exposed, as a result exposing Kenyans to extreme danger.
As exposed in the investigative piece, some of the road fatalities would have been avoided, if all the due process was followed.
Between 2020 and 2021, Kenyan road deaths rose by more than 20 percent. Last year, more than 4,500 were killed and over 16,000 were injured.
The investigative piece exposed NTSA’s flawed process of issuing driving licenses. One just needs to bribe their way.
The Authority’s Head of Motor Vehicle Inspection Gerald Wangai stated that NTSA’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) department is probing the claims.
“The authority has received that information and we have a department headed by the DCI at the NTSA and we will take steer action on anyone found culpable even if it means dismissal. Even the driving schools found to be culpable will be dealt with sternly,” he stated.
With a bribe, illegitimate drivers were able to acquire a driving license, without any training.
In the investigative piece, two journalists managed to infiltrate two driving schools in the country; Rocky and Petanns.
The two journalists’ plan was to see how hard or easy was, for a person to get a license without undergoing driving lessons or a test.
“We will book the test but you won’t seat for it. You’re 100 percent guaranteed to pass the test and your driving license will be issued,” an attendant at Rocky Driving School only identified as Hassan is seen saying.
As is the procedure, Hassan began by explaining that the driving school offered a three-week-course.
However, the investigator insisted he did not have the time and needed the licence as soon as possible.
Hassan said he could get a smart driving license with the help of an NTSA insider by the name of Jeremiah.
The duo made the arrangement and the investigating reporter was issued with the smart DL at the NTSA headquarters.
“Everything was done within the NTSA offices and in broad daylight so that shows how much the system is corrupt,” said the investigating reporter.
It was a similar story at Petanns Driving School.
In a statement, Petanns Driving School distanced itself with the actions of one of its employees identified as Silas.
The driving school said strictly abides by the law and driving regulations.
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