Former UDA Head of Policy and Public Affairs Annold Maliba has criticised the government’s proposed mandatory vehicle inspection programme, saying Kenyans should pay closer attention to who stands to benefit if the plan is implemented.
In a statement shared on social media, Maliba shifted the debate away from road safety and towards the financial implications of the proposal. He also questioned whether the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), led by Director General Eng. Nashon Kondiwa, has the capacity to inspect millions of vehicles across the country if the programme is rolled out.
“The reasons advanced for mandatory vehicle inspection sound legitimate on paper. But as is typical of this administration, you can bet the real driver isn’t road safety. It’s money. Not for NTSA. Not even for the Treasury. For a well-connected few,” Maliba wrote.
He estimated that Kenya has about five million serviceable vehicles, arguing that an inspection fee of KSh2,000 per vehicle would create a market worth about KSh10 billion every year.
Questions over NTSA’s capacity
Maliba argued that before motorists are asked to pay billions of shillings annually, the government should explain whether NTSA has the ability to undertake the exercise.
“Does NTSA have the capacity to inspect 5 million vehicles? Of course not. It struggles to print driving licences, let alone inspect every vehicle,” he said.
Former head of public policy in UDA Party Annord Maliba. Photo: Annord Maliba Source: Facebook
He maintained that if NTSA cannot carry out the inspections itself, Kenyans deserve to know who would eventually conduct them and who would collect the money.
“This is how policy is monetised under this administration. A few private players help write the rules, palms are greased across government corridors, then NTSA conveniently ‘discovers’ it lacks capacity and turns to private partners. Suddenly, the real beneficiaries of a ‘well-meaning’ policy reveal themselves.”
KSh10bn market under scrutiny
Maliba argued that the projected KSh10 billion annual inspection market should be subjected to greater public scrutiny because of its potential impact on motorists.
“Kenya has about 5 million serviceable vehicles. At KSh2,000 per inspection, that’s a KSh10 billion market.”
He added:
“Out of a possible KSh10 billion annually in inspection fees, some politically connected fat cat walks away with billions without investing a shilling, only by wielding state power.”
Maliba concluded with a political attack on the Kenya Kwanza administration and President William Ruto at large, writing:
“So when Manasseh said there would be no money to steal under his government, he actually meant there’d be nothing left for anyone else.”
He ended his statement with the words:
“Manasseh must go.”
The government has said mandatory vehicle inspections are intended to improve road safety by ensuring vehicles on Kenyan roads meet the required standards.
Maliba’s remarks, however, add to the ongoing public debate over how the proposed programme would be implemented, the role that NTSA, under Director General Eng. Nashon Kondiwa, would play, and how the billions collected from motorists would be managed if the proposal proceeds.
