Prominent Nairobi public transport company Super Metro has clapped back at the National Transport Safety Association (NTSA), over what it terms an unfair suspension of its city operations due to non-compliance.
In a statement on Thursday evening, the Super Metro bus company, which has been facing public backlash said it had fully complied with the needed NTSA regulations and that the claims its drivers do not meet required qualifications are outdated and do not reflect their current operational status.
“NTSA alleges that 64 of our drivers failed a retest on March 10, 2025, leading to the suspension of their licenses. We wish to clarify that all drivers in question underwent the required retesting three weeks ago, as mandated,” NTSA statement reads in part.
”All the affected drivers have been re-certified and are fully qualified to operate our vehicles, in line with the Traffic (Driving Schools, Driving Instructors and Driving License) Rules, 2020. The claim that our drivers do not meet required qualifications is therefore outdated and does not reflect our current operation status.”
“Additionally, upon identifying issues with speed limiters, we promptly reached out to our vendors, who rectified the problem across all affected vehicles. These corrective actions were completed well before the suspension, ensuring full compliance with NTSA standards.”
On the issue of unqualified drivers, Super Metro clarified that the 64 drivers who allegedly failed retests on March 10, 2025, had already completed the required retraining and retesting three weeks prior, as per regulations. The company emphasized that all affected drivers have since been recertified and are now fully qualified to operate their vehicles.
“The claim that our drivers do not meet required qualifications is therefore outdated and does not reflect our current operational status,” the bus company said.
On compliance with Public Service Vehicle regulations, Super Metro addressed NTSA’s concerns about violations, including issues related to labour and statutory deductions. The company confirmed that it fully complies with all labour laws, by providing signed contracts for all drivers and staff.
Further, Super Metro said it maintains up-to-date records of PAYE, NSSF, and SHA remittances, which are available for review by NTSA.
The company has also described NTSA’s suspension as unfair and said the move will affect thousands of employees who depend on it for their livelihoods.
“SuperMetro Limited has been working diligently with NTSA throughout their investigation, providing all requested documentation and taking immediate action to address any identified issues. The decision to impose a summary suspension, despite our proactive compliance, is not only unfair but also prejudicial to the thousands of employees and their families who depend on SuperMetro for their livelihoods,” the matatu sacco said.
“As a major employer in Kenya’s transport sector, this blanket ban threatens the economic stability of our workforce and disrupts essential services for our passengers. We urge NTSA to review the updated status of our compliance efforts and reconsider this suspension.”
The NTSA earlier on Thursday suspended the company’s operator license claiming it had not complied with the Public Service Vehicles Regulations, 2014, and other set conditions.
