The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is under investigation for allegedly possessing 296,000 blank smart driving licences worth Sh91 million that have become obsolete due to changes in printing technology.
According to Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s report, the NTSA is still using cards five years after Kenya implemented digital licenses.
“It was not stated how value for money would be gained in the receipt and prolonged holding of absolute stocks of blank smart driving licence cards,” Ms Gathungu wrote in the most recent audit, which was tabled in Parliament.
Ms Gathungu stated that as of June 30, 2021, the authority’s head office outlets had a closing balance of 1,273,174 blank smart driving licence cards.
“Among the 1,273,174 are 296,000 blank smart cards worth Sh91,108,800 that have become obsolete due to changes in printing technology,” Ms Gathungu explained in a report to the National Assembly.
According to the agreement, the contract was meant to last until March 8, 2020, with a two-year extension concluding March 8, 2022. The new digital license is compliant with international standards and is processed using the Transport Integrated Management System (TIMS), an interactive digital platform launched by the NTSA in 2016.
The TIMS, funded by the World Bank’s Eastern Africa Regional Transport, Trade, and Development Facilitation Project, has made it easier to apply for, process, and issue licenses.
Ms Gathungu has questioned the NTSA’s financial condition of Sh455.7 million, which comprises Sh450.4 million in specialized materials, Sh395.6 million of which is for smart driving licenses.
According to her, the NTSA engaged into a three-year contract with a local bank beginning March 7, 2017, for the supply, distribution, installation, and maintenance of Second-Generation smart-card based driving licenses and associated services for $21,094,284.41. According to the audit, the bank engaged into a subcontract with another firm on March 3, 2017 for the supply, distribution, installation, and maintenance of second-generation smart-card-based licences and associated services.
