Protests erupted outside the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) headquarters on Thursday morning, with hundreds of Kenyans demanding the immediate resignation of Director General George Njao.
The demonstrations, organised by the Road Safety Association of Kenya, were fueled by growing outrage over rising road accidents and allegations of deep-rooted corruption within the transport authority.
Protesters carried placards reading “End Road Carnage Now” and “Njao Must Go”, accusing the NTSA of failing to protect lives and allowing bribe-fueled operations to thrive on Kenya’s roads.
NTSA Protests Call for Accountability and Leadership Change
The demonstrators, led by the association’s chairperson David Njoroge Kierie, submitted a petition to the NTSA offices demanding the removal of Njao. Kierie accused the agency of gross negligence and complicity in corruption schemes that have compromised road safety.
According to the petition, over 1.2 million vehicles went uninspected in 2024 alone, allegedly leading to Ksh7.2 billion in bribes. “It is the Kenyan people who fund this office and pay their salaries. If they can’t do their job, the DG must step down,” Kierie said.
He added that 60,000 Kenyans have lost their lives in road accidents over the past six years, blaming what he called “institutionalized corruption” within NTSA for the tragedies.
The protesters demanded that the NTSA Board of Governors immediately appoint an acting Director General and begin the process of recruiting a new one by next week. “We are following the law,” Kierie insisted. “When someone fails to perform their duties, the law demands that they go.”
Protesters Cite Failed Reforms and Corruption in Vehicle Inspection
The demonstrators accused the NTSA of failing to take full control of the Transport Integrated Management System (TIMS), which went live in March 2023. Despite the system being operational for two years, the agency allegedly lacks full access to critical reports required to track revenue and performance.
According to the protesters, this lack of transparency has created loopholes that have allowed corruption to thrive in vehicle registration and inspection. They further alleged that bribes are routinely exchanged for vehicle inspection approvals, while unroadworthy vehicles continue to operate freely across the country.
The association also faulted NTSA for failing to implement regular nationwide vehicle checks. “We have millions of cars that should have been inspected this year, yet the roads are full of unsafe vehicles,” Kierie said. “This negligence is costing lives every day.”
Smart Driving Licence and EACC Failures Add to Public Fury
Another major issue raised during the NTSA protests was the controversy surrounding the smart driving licence system. Protesters claimed that over four million smart licences had been printed and delivered but remain unused without any explanation from NTSA.
They accused the agency of failing to sign a formal contract for the system’s adoption, leaving it without proper legal or technical oversight. “The NTSA is operating blindly,” Kierie said. “How can such a critical public system function without a binding agreement?”
Protesters also directed anger toward the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), accusing it of inaction despite multiple audit reports highlighting financial irregularities within NTSA. “All the Auditor General’s reports have been sitting on the EACC’s desk for over two years,” the protesters claimed. “We want to know why nothing has been done.”
Calls for Urgent Reform in Kenya’s Transport Sector
The protesters said their movement is not only about removing the Director General but also about reforming Kenya’s entire road transport system. They urged President William Ruto’s administration to intervene and restore public confidence in the NTSA.
Many Kenyans online have echoed these calls, demanding transparency in vehicle inspection and licence issuance. Road safety advocates argue that unless systemic corruption is addressed, road accidents will continue to claim thousands of lives every year.
Meanwhile, NTSA officials have yet to issue a formal response to the growing public pressure. Attempts to reach Director General George Njao for comment were unsuccessful.
The Road Safety Association of Kenya vowed to continue its campaign until the NTSA leadership is held accountable. “We will not stop until change happens,” Kierie declared. “Kenyans deserve safe roads and honest leadership.”
