Super Metro Limited has been granted a temporary reprieve after the Transport Licensing Appeals Board issued an order halting the operational ban imposed by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). The board’s chairman, Adrian Kamotho, confirmed that the bus company can now resume operations, provided it continues to comply with the relevant laws.
The board’s interim order, which was issued pending an inter-party hearing, stays the NTSA’s decision of March 18 to suspend the company’s operating license. The move follows Super Metro’s appeal, challenging the suspension and urging that it be lifted.
On March 20, the NTSA had suspended Super Metro’s license, citing several regulatory violations, including issues with vehicle inspections, licensing, speed limiter compliance, unqualified drivers, and breaches of labor laws. The authority emphasized that these violations posed a risk to road safety and public trust.
In response, Super Metro contested the decision, arguing that it had made significant investments in complying with safety and operational standards. The company claimed that the suspension was based on incomplete investigations and that it would severely impact its operations, threatening jobs and livelihoods.
NTSA inspectors had recently conducted a series of checks on Super Metro’s fleet, focusing on vehicle conditions such as bodywork, speed limiters, lighting, safety belts, and tyres. Hundreds of vehicles were queued for urgent inspections at the NTSA facility on Likoni Road.
The appeal will be heard at a later date, as Super Metro seeks to reverse the suspension and address the issues raised by the NTSA.
