The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is under sharp scrutiny following revelations that more than 500,000 driving licences remain uncollected, leading to an alarming waste of public funds. According to a damning report by the Office of the Auditor General, the backlog of unclaimed licences has resulted in potential losses amounting to over Ksh176 million, a staggering indictment of inefficiency and systemic failure.
The licences, many of which date back several years, have been printed and stored at NTSA offices across the country, gathering dust while the agency continues to print new ones. The report questions why NTSA has made little to no effort to reach out to the affected drivers or create an efficient system to notify them of collection procedures.
“The Authority risks rendering these licences obsolete and incurring unnecessary expenditure if corrective measures are not taken immediately,” the Auditor General noted. With each smart driving licence costing the government and applicants approximately Ksh700, the uncollected documents represent not only wasted resources but also a deeper problem within NTSA’s service delivery and public engagement.
Worse still, concerns have emerged over data management lapses, with NTSA allegedly failing to track applicants effectively or update their records, thereby creating confusion and communication gaps. In some cases, applicants have complained of long waits, system errors, and being turned away without explanation.
Lawmakers and transport sector stakeholders are now calling for urgent reforms, including an audit of NTSA’s licensing process, better public awareness campaigns, and digital tracking tools to streamline notifications and pickups.
As frustration grows among motorists and taxpayers alike, this latest scandal puts NTSA’s credibility on the line and raises broader questions about accountability in Kenya’s public service institutions.
