NAIROBI, Kenya – A government proposal to compel inspections for private vehicles older than five years has been fiercely opposed by the Motorists Association of Kenya, which describes the action as punitive and inappropriate.
The association criticised officials in a scathing statement for placing the responsibility on private drivers while disregarding what it said was the primary cause of traffic accidents: inadequate road infrastructure.
“Despite motorists paying significant fuel levies, including KSh 25 per litre earmarked for road maintenance, the condition of many roads across the country remains substandard,” the lobby group stated.
The National Transport and Safety Authority, Kenya Urban Roads Authority, Kenya Rural Roads Authority, and Kenya National Highways Authority were among the important road authorities that the Association criticised for failing to provide motorable and safe roads in spite of ongoing tax receipts.
The organisation believes that while there are still compliance loopholes in the inspection of commercial cars, which it claims provides a bigger safety concern, private automobiles are being unfairly targeted.
Why is the Motorists Association worried about the plan?
The group also expressed worry that the planned inspections, especially if they were carried out through public-private partnerships, might allow corruption and abuse.
Additionally, the Association rejected comparisons to international car inspection programs, claiming that the nations used as models have much better accountability and road infrastructure.
Furthermore, the group insisted that no reliable evidence has been provided to support the policy change and asked the government to show data relating the condition of private vehicles to traffic incidents.
The Kenyan Motorists Association petitions the government
The idea, along with other policies like tolls and higher taxes, is part of a larger pattern of overtaxing drivers without providing commensurate infrastructure upgrades, the statement cautioned.
The Kenyan Motorists Association has now demanded urgent road network restoration, openness in the use of fuel levy funds, and quick changes to commercial vehicle inspection systems.
Additionally, it called for the government to abandon any efforts to impose forced inspections on private motor vehicles.
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