The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) of Kenya has stated the reasons behind the suspension of vehicles operating Little Shuttle and SWVL. This clarification is in response to the announcement by Little Shuttle and Swvl. The companies notified their clients that vehicles will not be in operation across different routes come October 1, 2019.
According to NairobiNewsNation, the NTSA Director-General Francis Meja stated that Little Shuttle and SWVL were running bus shuttle services without Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licenses in Kenya.
The authority further elaborated that the companies were using Tours Service License (TSL) to offer commuting services in the country. This act, according to the authority violated the PSV Regulations. Little Shuttle and Swvl, however, have not made any efforts whatsoever to register their vehicles as stated in NTSA. This registration aligns with Section 26 of the Transport and Safety Act No. 33 of 2012.
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An official statement by the NTSA read “The vehicles under these hailing app companies have acquired Tours Service License (TSL) but are engaging in commuter service within Nairobi, therefore, contravening the terms of the Tour Service License (TSL).”
The statement further explained that both companies did not contact the authority to indicate interest in commuter service provision. These reasons are behind the blacklisting of the companies vehicles and also revoked their Tours Service Licenses.
According to the NTSA, they are willing to cooperate with the two companies, should they indicate interest in compliance with the PSV Regulations.
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