High Court suspends NTSA order against Nicco Movers pending appeal

The High Court has temporarily halted the suspension of Nicco Movers Limited’s Public Service Vehicle operator licence, giving the transport company a reprieve as it challenges regulatory action arising from two fatal incidents involving vehicles operating under its licence.

Justice Janet Mulwa of the Milimani High Court on Wednesday, September 2, certified Nicco Movers’ application as urgent and stayed the execution of the Transport Licensing Appeals Board judgment and orders until September 22, 2026.

The court ordered Nicco Movers to serve its application within 24 hours, with the respondents given seven days to file their responses. The case will return to court on September 22 for further directions.

The dispute follows an August 31 ruling by the Transport Licensing Appeals Board, which suspended Nicco Movers’ PSV operator licence with immediate effect.

The tribunal proceedings were linked to two fatal incidents involving vehicles operating under the company's licence.

One occurred on January 11, 2026, when vehicle KDQ 655D was involved in a crash along the Thika Superhighway near Kenyatta University/Kahawa Sukari in which a pedestrian died.

The second occurred on June 5 and involved vehicle KDV 713J. According to the tribunal judgment, Kenya Medical Training College student Eugene Mutivi Mutuku died after falling from the moving vehicle. His mother, Jacinta Nzilani Mutuku, subsequently joined the proceedings as an interested party opposing Nicco Movers' appeal.

The case also exposed wider concerns about the operator's fleet.

According to the tribunal, NTSA raised concerns including speeding, failure by some vehicles to transmit speed-limiter data, expired inspection certificates and vehicles operating without speed limiters.

Inspections ordered by the regulator also uncovered defects including missing or defective seat belts, faulty door and window locks, defective lights and horns, damaged body panels and missing first-aid equipment and fire extinguishers.

The tribunal, however, found that permanent revocation was not the only regulatory option available to NTSA and partially allowed Nicco Movers' appeal. It instead suspended the operator's licence and directed the company to address outstanding compliance concerns.

Nicco Movers then moved to the High Court, arguing that the suspension had grounded more than 100 commercial PSV vehicles and was causing substantial financial losses.

The company maintains that it complied with the required statutory and regulatory conditions and says it has compliance certificates and supporting documentation.

Justice Mulwa's order does not determine the merits of those claims. It temporarily stays the tribunal decision while the High Court considers Nicco Movers' application.

The matter returns to court on September 22.

About the Author

Rhoda Bogeta is a Kenyan journalist and multimedia storyteller covering current affairs, human-interest, science and environmental stories, with expertise in reporting, photography, videography and digital content creation. Email: rhodabogeta@gmail.com Instagram : i_am_bogetar X : @I_am_Bogetar LinkedIn: Rhoda Bogeta Tiktok : monique.mora_