The Ministry of Transport has proposed to revise a section of the Traffic Act, stipulated by the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) by introducing a new sub-section that will allow the Transport Ministry Cabinet Secretary (CS) to impose the regulation of Public Service Vehicle (PSV) fare charges.
The Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia in a presentation to the National Assembly Transport and Housing committee Tuesday said the drafted amendments intend to protect the public against exploitation by the PSV operates across the country.
The Public Service Vehicle subsector is governed by the Traffic Act Cap 403, National Transport and Safety Authority Act No 33 of 2012 and attendant regulations. These laws have no direct provision that enables the Ministry of Transport to regulate fares charged by the operators who have for a long time have taken advantage of that it.
The Chief Administrative Secretary Chris Obure who represented Mr Macharia in the presentation said the proposals are at an advanced stage with the legal department in the ministry and will soon be presented to the cabinet for adoption before being presented to the legislature.
“The amendments will ensure effective regulation of fare tariffs by the authority similar to the regulation of petroleum process by the Energy Regulatory Commission. The process has already started and it is with the legal team in the ministry. It will not take long before it is presented to the cabinet. The team has been instructed to fast-track the process,” said Mr. Obure to the MPs
Once the amendment has been effected, the Cabinet Secretary will have a legal mandate to determine the technique for establishing the tariff, review mechanism of the tariff and penalty for non-compliance.
The Chief Administrative Secretary noted that the government was aware of the ongoing exploitation and the amendments are to cushioning the public against from being overcharged by the PSV operators.
