By John Mutiso
Two driving school instructors have been arrested, unmasking a corrupt syndicate that allegedly sold guaranteed passes for official National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) driving tests at the Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology (KIHBT), Kisii campus.
The instructors, Philip Dawa and Fidel Omondi, were taken into custody by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in an operation that also targeted NTSA examiners linked to the scheme.
The arrests followed a search that recovered Kes 171,000 in cash from an envelope in Omondi’s jacket, believed to be the day’s collection of bribes.
The EACC alleges the two men operated a mandatory “facilitation fee” system within the driving school, directly targeting students scheduled for their final NTSA practical exams.
According to the commission, every student was required to pay Kes 3,100 in cash to Omondi to secure a pass.
“The syndicate ensured those who did not pay were automatically failed in their NTSA test,” the EACC stated.
Investigators found evidence that some students who paid the bribe did not even sit for the actual NTSA driving exam, yet still received passing certificates.
The investigation points to collusion between the arrested driving school staff and NTSA personnel, with the illicit fees being shared between them. This partnership corrupted a critical public safety checkpoint, potentially allowing unqualified drivers onto the road.
Beyond the exam bribes, the duo is accused of running a massive fee diversion scam at the driving school. While official tuition is Kes 65,000 payable via bank, they offered a discounted rate of Kes 40,000 for cash payments directly to them, defrauding the institution. Mobile money records show Dawa’s lines transacted over Kes 34 million in three years.
The arrests have thrown a spotlight on the integrity of licensing processes at driving schools and NTSA test centers. The two instructors are held at Kisii Police Station as the EACC pursues its investigation into the broader network.
