The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has pledged to review its 21-year smart driving licence production deal following sharp criticism from lawmakers.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Public Debt and Privatisation Committee on April 9, NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa admitted concerns over the agreement and committed to reassessing its structure.
The deal, signed with a private consortium led by PesaPrint, has been heavily criticised for its revenue-sharing model. Legislators raised alarm that private partners stand to take about 77 per cent of projected earnings, leaving the government with less than a quarter over the contract period.
Committee chair Abdi Shurie and other MPs termed the arrangement unfair and against public interest, questioning how such a significant share of public revenue could be allocated to private entities. Some lawmakers argued the projected returns suggest excessive profits for the consortium.
Kondiwa defended the Public-Private Partnership model, citing funding challenges from the Treasury that limited NTSA’s bargaining power. He noted that under a fully government-funded system, the agency struggled to meet demand for licences.
However, he acknowledged weaknesses in the negotiation process and assured MPs that the agreement would be reviewed, with stakeholders set to be re-engaged to ensure a fairer outcome.