Super Metro Suspended by NTSA Over Safety Violations
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended the operating license of Super Metro Limited due to multiple safety violations.
The move comes after an inspection revealed non-compliance with Public Service Vehicles (PSV) regulations, putting the lives of passengers and road users at risk.
NTSA has warned passengers against boarding any Super Metro vehicles until the company meets all safety conditions. The Traffic Police have been ordered to impound any Super Metro vehicles found operating illegally.
Why Was Super Metro Suspended?
NTSA conducted an audit of 523 Super Metro vehicles and found the following issues:
- 15 vehicles had expired inspection certificates.
- 8 vehicles had expired Road Service Licenses (RSL).
- 5 vehicles had expired speed limiter certificates.
- 88 vehicles were not transmitting speed data.
- 171 vehicles had no speed limiter records.
- 7 vehicles had no registered speed limiter vendors.
- 109 vehicles were operating above the 80 km/h speed limit.
Additionally, some drivers had invalid or unverified driving licenses, creating a major road safety risk.
This suspension comes amid increased public complaints and controversies surrounding Super Metro.
In a recent case, a passenger lost his life after a dispute over bus fare. This incident sparked outrage, with Kenyans criticising Super Metro for failing to enforce discipline among its crew.
Many commuters have raised concerns over careless driving, over-speeding, and poor adherence to traffic laws, with some reporting near-accidents involving Super Metro buses.
Conditions for Super Metro to Resume Operations
NTSA has set strict conditions before Super Metro can return to the roads, including:
- Submitting 294 vehicles for speed limiter certification.
- Taking 294 vehicles to the Likoni Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre for compliance checks.
- Presenting 42 drivers (out of 109 with violations) for a retest at Likoni Driver Test Centre.
- Firing unqualified drivers to enhance road safety.
- Submitting signed contracts for all drivers and staff, with proof of payroll compliance.
- Conducting road safety training for all drivers, facilitated by NTSA.
- Undergoing a compliance audit by NTSA.
This suspension is a major setback for Super Metro, which must now work to restore public trust while meeting NTSA’s strict compliance requirements.
