KTA Grant Quarterly report April-June 2012

The organization has been actively involved in various activities aimed at enhancing the capacity of transporters to sustain their operations. This report highlights the key activities undertaken by KTA during the second quarter of 2012, which spanned from April to June. Advocacy was a key pillar of KTA's activities during this period. The organization participated in a stakeholders' forum on draft petroleum regulations, which was held in Mombasa on April 24, 2012. Prior to the forum, KTA had submitted views on aspects of the draft regulations that affected its members directly. The views were submitted in the form of a memorandum to the Energy Regulatory Commission. Some of the notable recommendations made by KTA included clarification on the rates to be charged on licenses, notice prior to inspection, and the establishment of call centers for reporting accidents. KTA also attended a meeting of the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) Committee, which was convened by the Ministry of East African Community in Machakos town on May 14-15, 2012. The objective of the meeting was to review and agree on the terms of reference for the National OSBP steering committee, review the terms of reference of the National and Bilateral sub-committees, and appoint lead agencies to spearhead them. KTA was included on the National OSBP Steering Committee. In addition, KTA participated in a meeting of the Ports Management Association for East and Southern Africa (PMAESA) on May 14-15, 2012. The meeting was called to discuss the creation of a single point of coordination, identification of best practices among African Corridor Management Institutions, and identification of African Corridors with the global network to improve safety, reliability, efficiency, and effectiveness of services provided by corridors. KTA also received a summary report of the Trucking Industry Survey report from the Northern Corridor on May 19, 2012. The survey was sponsored by the World Bank in collaboration with the Northern Corridor, KTA, and the Mombasa Polytechnic University College. The objectives of the survey included helping transport associations move towards fact-based policies, developing accurate and reliable web-based databases on road transport operators and fleets, and enhancing effective and efficient management of fleets by member transport operators. Road safety was another key area of focus for KTA during this period. The organization participated in a meeting organized by the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) at the Aga Khan Hall in Mombasa on June 7, 2012, and a visit to Mariakani Weighbridge on June 8, 2012. The meeting discerned two key points for discussion: road safety and staff (driver) welfare. The meeting noted the main causes of road carnage as poor recruitment procedures, fatigue, lack of knowledge of road signs, freewheeling, speeding, use of unroadworthy vehicles, overloading, route deviations, use of fake number plates, bribery, poor pay, and dishonest driver incentives. Key recommendations made at the meetings included thorough driver recruitment procedures, deployment of two drivers for every truck safari to alleviate driver fatigue, driver training on road signs, training of staff/drivers on the dangers of freewheeling, imposing heavy fines on offenders, use of CCTV cameras, and closer working relationships between employers and staff/drivers. The KTA East African HCV Drivers Training Institute was also mentioned as a facility that will promote road safety once it is ready. The institute is expected to provide training to drivers on road safety and other related topics. Overall, KTA's activities during the second quarter of 2012 were focused on enhancing the capacity of transporters to sustain their operations, promoting road safety, and advocating for the interests of its members. The organization's participation in various meetings and forums demonstrates its commitment to improving the transportation sector in Kenya.