Nicco Movers Limited has received temporary relief after the Transport Licensing Appeals Tribunal suspended the National Transport and Safety Authority’s (NTSA) decision to revoke its operating licence, allowing the public service vehicle operator to resume operations pending the outcome of its appeal.
Highlights:
- Tribunal suspends NTSA licence revocation against Nicco Movers
- Company allowed to resume operations pending appeal determination
- NTSA had revoked licence over safety and compliance concerns
- Operator argues decision affected investors and livelihoods
- Tribunal cites possible procedural and fairness issues
Main Story:
Tribunal Grants Interim Relief
The Transport Licensing Appeals Tribunal has temporarily halted the enforcement of NTSA’s decision to revoke Nicco Movers Limited’s PSV operating licence. The ruling allows the transport company to return to the road while its appeal is heard and determined.
The suspension follows NTSA’s June 9, 2026 decision, which had grounded the operator over alleged safety breaches and regulatory non-compliance.
Nicco Movers Challenges Revocation
Through its legal representative, advocate Danstan Omari, the company moved to the tribunal seeking urgent intervention. It argued that the revocation paralysed its operations, disrupted transport services, and threatened the livelihoods of drivers, employees, and support staff.
The firm further claimed that the decision endangered investments worth over Ksh 1 billion linked to more than 110 investors within the SACCO structure.
According to the company, compliant vehicle owners were being penalised for alleged misconduct by a few operators within the fleet.
NTSA Defends Its Decision
The National Transport and Safety Authority, led by Director General George Njao, defended its move, stating that public safety concerns necessitated strict enforcement action.
NTSA told the tribunal that the decision followed repeated attempts to enforce compliance, which had allegedly failed. The authority cited incidents involving fatal crashes, unreported safety cases, and multiple speeding violations across the fleet.
According to NTSA, at least 51 vehicles were flagged for speeding, placing the operator below acceptable safety compliance levels.
Questions on Fairness and Proportionality
During the hearing, the tribunal questioned whether revoking the entire licence was a proportionate response, especially where some operators within the fleet were compliant.
It also raised concerns over whether less severe regulatory measures could have achieved the same safety objectives without fully grounding the company.
Legal Arguments for the Operator
Nicco Movers’ lawyer, Danstan Omari, argued that the revocation was effectively a “death sentence” for investors and called for a conditional reinstatement of operations.
He also challenged the legality of the process, citing inconsistencies in official notices and raising concerns over procedural fairness and the right to a fair hearing.
What Next
In its ruling, the tribunal found that the appeal raised arguable legal issues, including fairness, proportionality, and due process concerns. It therefore issued interim orders allowing Nicco Movers to resume operations pending the full hearing.
The case will be mentioned again on a date to be set for further directions.
