Gachagua threatens nationwide boycott over mandatory NTSA inspections
By Mabonga Makhanu, June 30, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has threatened to urge Kenyans to withdraw their vehicles from the roads if President William Ruto continues with the push for mandatory vehicle inspections.
Speaking at his Wamunyoro residence during an engagement with Democracy for Citizens party (DCP) delegates from Nairobi on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, the outspoken former deputy president said he would resort to the same approach he recently advocated during protests over the fuel hike, which brought parts of the country to a standstill.
“I want to tell all motorists not to take their vehicles for inspection. If William Ruto wants to force vehicles to undergo inspection, I, Rigathi Gachagua, will tell all car owners to leave their cars at home and boycott Kenyan roads for one week so that we can bring Kenya to a standstill. Just as I told Kenyans some weeks ago to stay at home and not go to work, I will repeat the same call.”
NTSA instant fines
Gachagua urged motorists not to present their vehicles for the mandatory inspections recently rolled out by the Ministry of Transport. He claimed that the fees charged during the inspections were benefiting individuals rather than the government.
The Democracy for Citizens( DCP) leader argued that the most effective way to oppose the government was through a peaceful economic shutdown that would bring the country to a standstill, rather than through barricading roads or destroying property like it has being in the past.
He further urged motorists who have already been fined for speeding not to make payments through the account currently linked on the eCitizen portal. Instead, he claimed they should only pay into an account that directly reflects the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), stating that the current payment channel benefits proxies linked to the president.
The DCP leader went on to say that in the coming weeks, he would reveal businesses in which he claims President William Ruto has interests, as well as companies he alleges are being used to facilitate corruption. He said he would call on Kenyans to boycott those businesses and refuse to purchase their products or services.
Gachagua reiterated that, just as he accuses the president of crippling the economy and hurting the business sector through government policies, Kenyans should respond by peacefully boycotting businesses allegedly linked to the head of state. He argued that economic pressure, rather than violent demonstrations, was the most effective way to push for change.
NTSA clarification
Gachagua’s sentiments come days after the authority moved to calm Kenyans after uproar over the directive. NTSA clarified that some sections of the new regulations will not be enforced immediately. The authority also warned Kenyans against relying on false information circulating online about the inspection programme.
According to the notice signed by NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa, school transport operators will not face penalties for failing to install reflectorised red stop mechanical signal arms and telematics systems under the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026.