The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has secured a legal victory, allowing it to maintain the suspension of Acacia Shuttle SACCO’s operating licence.
The Transport Licensing Appeals Board (TLAB), the tribunal that hears and decides appeals against decisions made by NTSA, dismissed a challenge by the transport cooperative, upholding the authority’s decision to bar the SACCO from operating public service vehicles due to repeated safety violations.
“The Board has upheld the suspension of Acacia Shuttle SACCO vehicles (E033/24), plying Kisumu routes, as previously requested by NTSA. With immediate effect, they cease operation,” TLAB noted.
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The pronouncement, made on Monday, April 28, stems from a series of incidents involving Acacia Shuttle’s vehicles, which NTSA cited as evidence of non-compliance with road safety regulations. The authority accused the SACCO of failing to maintain its fleet to the required standards and disregarding passenger safety protocols.
Acacia Shuttle, a prominent player in the country’s matatu industry operating from mostly Kisumu, Ndori and Uyoma, had sought to overturn the suspension, arguing it was unfairly targeted and that the ban threatened the livelihoods of its drivers and operators.
However, the Chairperson of TLAB determined that NTSA acted within its mandate to prioritise public safety. “The authority has demonstrated sufficient cause to suspend the SACCO’s operations, given the documented breaches of safety regulations,” Dr Adrian Kamotho Njenga stated.
The TLAB Chair further noted that Acacia Shuttle failed to provide compelling evidence to justify lifting the suspension.
NTSA Director General George Njao hailed the ruling as a step towards accountability in their ongoing efforts to enforce stricter regulations on Kenya’s public transportation sector to reduce accidents. That’s weeks after banning and then lifting the famous Super Metro’s licence for contravening several regulations.
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