World Bank Intervenes After Murkomen’s Plan to Re-Test Drivers
The World Bank has supported the Ministry of Transport, led by Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, in its efforts to re-test drivers.
According to a tender notice published by the National Transport and Safety Authority on Tuesday, March 26, the Ministry of Transport has secured credit from the World Bank.
The Ministry of Transport plans to utilise a portion of the funding to purchase driver testing and simulation devices, which will be deployed in Thika.
“The Government of Kenya has received financing from the World Bank in the form of a credit towards the cost of the Horn of Africa Gateway Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the contract for Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Testing of Six (6) Driver Testing Simulation Equipment at Thika,” the tender notice read in part.
“For this contract, the Borrower shall process the payments using the Direct Payment disbursement method, as defined in the World Bank’s Disbursement Guidelines for Investment Project Financing,” it added.
Bidding will be conducted through Open National Competitive Procurement using Request for Bids (RFB) as specified in the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers- Procurement in Investment Projects Financing” August 2018, updated November 2020, and updated September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), and is open to all eligible bidders as defined in the Procurement Regulations, according to NTSA.
This fresh approach comes just days after CS Murkomen ordered an emergency evaluation of drivers driving Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and large commercial vehicles in reaction to the recent spike in traffic accidents across the country, which has claimed countless lives and left many gravely injured.
CS stated that the driver re-evaluation exercise, which was originally scheduled for June 2023 before being rescheduled to October last year and then halted, was long overdue, and that stakeholders are expected to adhere to the directive.
“The re-testing of all PSV and heavy commercial drivers, which had been postponed after an outcry from the sector, will now be implemented without further delay. All stakeholders are expected to comply and cooperate,” said Murkomen.
The Ministry of Transport is expected to speed up the process with financial backing from the World Bank.
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World Bank Intervenes After Murkomen’s Plan to Re-Test Drivers
