Tension at NTSA Over Controversial Return Of DG Njao – Weekly Citizen

The embattled Director General of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) George Njao defied a 30-day compulsory leave order and sneaked back to the office amidst reported tension in the divided NTSA board.

The board had called a crisis meeting on Thursday to establish under what circumstances did Njao sneak back to the office despite the fact that his suspension was occasioned by a grave issue touching on the lives of Kenyans.

Njao who is a staunch ally of former interior CS Fred Matiangi had been sent on a compulsory leave over the rising number of road accidents in the country and deputy director Cosmas Ngeso appointed to take over in an acting capacity.

A highly placed source told Weekly Citizen that Njao made a surprise return at the agency with claims that his return had been facilitated through the office of the Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen.

Inside sources added that Njao is still actively spying for an equally besieged Matiangi and that President William Ruto is not comfortable with him given his link with the former ruthless interior CS.

The controversial return of Njao has seemingly irked a faction of the board led by chairman Aden Noor Ali which appears to be fighting the return of Njao ostensibly over a range of dirty operations that has put the agency at risk.

Njao critics are apparently concerned that his stay as at NTSA is bound to worsen matters at the troubled agency on the spotlight over the rising numbers of road accidents in the country.

The board chairman while sending Njao on his compulsory leave announced that the move was part of a raft of measures to restore safety and sanity on the roads .

An insider revealed to Weekly Citizen intrigues involving how Njao is accused of collecting millions of shillings from stakeholders including Matatu Saccos and speed limit suppliers in a racket that is largely linked to the worrying road carnage in the country.

He`s also said to be operating proxy companies favoured for lucrative tenders by the agency therefore compromising operations.

A section of the board members reportedly demands for an immediate investigation against the Director general regarding the corruption allegations.

However, a source told Weekly Citizen that Njao is bragging to all and sundry citing that he spent millions of shillings in securing his position and would go nowhere since he enjoys protection from a senior officer in the roads docket.

The government has been asked to launch investigations involving the issuance of fake vehicle inspection stickers among other irregularities that have been blamed for the road carnage in the country.

According to inside sources, proxy companies linked to Njao are behind the dirty operations at the agency.

Deputy director and head of licensing Cosmas Ngeso Jagongo took over in an acting capacity and now feels stranded after the controversial Njao forced his way back to the office in total disregard to the earlier decision by the board.

It`s also emerging that Ngeso is strategically positioned in the acting capacity to pave the way for a new substantive DG in the current wave where Kalenjins have replaced their Kikuyu counterparts in lucrative positions in major agencies.

At NTSA, Wilson Tuigong is the deputy director and head of safety compliance and testing.

Tuigong

Other top senior officers are Wycliffe Wasike, deputy director finance, Nashon Kondiwo, deputy director ICT and innovation, Shem Shalakha deputy director supply chain management and Ms Dido Guyatu, deputy director corporate affairs and communication.

Dido

Another source familiar with the current happenings at NTSA corroborated talks that a plot was indeed thickening to have Njao permanently ousted from the DG position and claims that he enjoys protection from a senior officer in the roads ministry will likely be considered when the right time for his sacking comes.

Attempts to reach Njao for comments over the allegations were fruitless as by press time, he had not responded to a series of our text messages and phone calls.