Published on February 4, 2025 by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Last Updated on 1 year by Agencies for Kenya Online News
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has been ordered to release all impounded vehicles and return their confiscated registration number plates.
Milimani High Court judge Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued the directive on Monday, February 3, 2025, following case filed by Matatu Owners Association (MOA) in Nairobi through Nganya Association.
In the directive, Justice Mwamuye ordered NTSA to release all vehicles impounded by them which belong to the petitioners unless the same are otherwise lawfully held pursuant to a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the Application dated 28/01/2025, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued directing the respondents and the interested party, jointly and severally and whether directly or through the principal, employees, servants, agencies or related bodies to return to the petitioners/applicants all registration number plates,” part of Justice Mwamuye’s directive read.
The owners of matatus which operate through Embakasi, Kiambu Road, Thika Road, Juja and Ongata Rongai claim that since January 21, 2025, they were put through unjustified crackdown, frequent inspection by the NTSA and vehicle impounding.
Through their lawyer Danstan Omari, the petitioners stated that they have incurred huge losses as a result of stalled vehicles which is their source of income.
“That from the 21st of January 2025, the operators have been subjected to excessive , inordinate , unwarranted and unjustified crackdowns resulting in frantic National Transport and Safety Authority searched, which end up in the apprehension of the Matatus they operate,” part of the application read.
Additionally, the petitioners told the court that their efforts to fundraise and bail out their vehicles have been in vain as the authorities did not listen to them despite the vehicles having been operating on the same roads for long, conveniently unnoticed during such previous crackdowns.
Mwamuye ordered the petitioners to serve the application, the petition and the court order and directions on the respondents and interested party by Monday, February 3, 2025, and file an affidavit of service in that regard by Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
The judge ordered that responses to the application and petition should be filed and be served by February 14, 2025.
The matter will be mentioned on February 25, 2025, before Justice Lawrence Mugambi.
