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{
    "id": 1235752,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1235752/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 88,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ndia, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. George Kariuki",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, I appreciate the opportunity to weigh in on this debate. The Bill seeks to amend the NTSA Act (No.33 of 2012) to assign additional functions to NTSA. The proposed additional functions include the establishment of systems and procedures for regional registration and licensing of two and three-wheeled public motorcycle taxis and regional registration and licensing of drivers of the same. In compliance with the requirements of Article 118 of the Constitution and Standing Order 127(3), the Committee placed an advertisement in the print media on 23rd February 2023 requesting for comments from the general public on the Bill. In that regard, the Committee received memoranda from the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and obtained views and comments of the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Transport and the NTSA during a meeting held on 9th March 2023. The Committee considered all the submissions before making its recommendations. As Members would appreciate, the intention of the Bill is very clear. It seeks to ensure regulation of boda boda operators, noting the definition of “motor vehicle” as provided in the Traffic Act (Cap. 403), to which the NTSA Act makes reference to mean: “Any mechanically propelled vehicle, excluding any vehicle running on a specially prepared way such as a railway or tramway or any vehicle deriving its power from overhead electric power cables or such other vehicles as may from time to time by rules under this Act be declared not to be motor vehicles for the purposes of this Act.” The Committee considered the Bill and all the views expressed by the various stakeholders and made the following observations: 1. The proposed amendments in the Bill as formulated were already provided for in the National Transport and Safety Authority Act (No.33 of 2012). 2. The National Transport and Safety Authority (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.43 of 2022) by the Member of this House emanated from issues of laxity in implementation, compliance and enforcement of existing laws and regulations, and not really a lack of legal framework. 3. The NTSA (Operation of Motorcycles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022 provide for the licensing of motorcycle taxis by county governments. 4. In March 2022, the Government launched a national registration process of two and three-wheeled public service vehicles and the same is to be done on the NTSA portal. 5. There are in existence regulations formulated in 2015 that provide that motorcycles should have a third party Public Service Vehicle (PSV) insurance and riders to have a valid driving licence and operators to be members of a registered body corporate. In view of those observations, the Committee notes that there is no need to legislate on this issue, considering that there is an existing framework sufficient to address the issues raised The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}