NAIROBI, Kenya – Super Metro commuters and crew can breathe a sigh of relief after the Transport Licensing Appeals Board (TLAB) temporarily lifted a suspension order imposed by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
The decision, issued on Monday, allows the matatu sacco to resume operations as a public service vehicle operator pending a full hearing of its appeal.
The TLAB ruling deemed the matter urgent and granted an interim order staying the enforcement of NTSA’s March 18 decision.
“An interim order is hereby issued staying the execution, enforcement, or operation of the decision of the respondent dated 18th March 2025, suspending the operations of the appellant herein, Super Metro Sacco Limited, as a PSV operator,” the order read.
The appeals board directed that NTSA be served with the appeal documents immediately, requiring the authority to file a response by Tuesday, March 25.
Super Metro has until Wednesday, March 26, to submit additional documents.
The final hearing is scheduled for Thursday, March 27, at 2:30 pm. Until then, the sacco can continue operating.
Super Metro had challenged NTSA’s suspension, describing it as arbitrary, unjust, and based on poorly investigated claims.
The sacco argued that the suspension threatened thousands of livelihoods and jeopardized significant investments made to comply with regulatory requirements.
In its appeal, Super Metro called the NTSA’s actions malicious and urged the immediate revocation of the suspension.
The company also disputed NTSA’s claims of regulatory violations, dismissing them as outdated and misleading.
The NTSA suspended Super Metro’s operating licence, citing violations of public service vehicle (PSV) regulations.
Key issues highlighted included expired inspection certificates for 15 of its 523 vehicles, lack of valid road service licences for eight vehicles, speed limiter infractions affecting 294 vehicles, ranging from expired certificates to speed limit violations, employment of unqualified drivers, and breaches of labour laws.
NTSA maintained that the decision was aimed at ensuring passenger safety and enforcing compliance with PSV regulations.
According to the agency, the sacco’s lapses endangered the lives of passengers and other road users.
Super Metro contested these findings, particularly NTSA’s claims about unqualified drivers.
The sacco clarified that 64 drivers flagged for failing retests on March 10 had already undergone retraining and retesting three weeks earlier, meeting all regulatory requirements.
It emphasized that the drivers have since been recertified and are fully qualified.
Additionally, Super Metro took immediate steps to address NTSA’s concerns by presenting its fleet for inspection on Saturday.
The vehicles were inspected at the Likoni Road motor vehicle inspection center in Nairobi’s Industrial Area to ensure compliance with safety and operational standards.
The appeals board’s ruling has provided temporary relief for Super Metro, but the sacco still faces a full hearing of its case later this week.
The outcome will determine whether the NTSA suspension is upheld or overturned.
