By Winnie Kabintie

Motorists have been given until the end of July 2020 to shift from the traditional driving license to the digital one.

Last week, interior Cs Fred Matiang’i announced a new 10 – point plan strategy aimed at enhancing service delivery to the public and the roll-out of the Smart Driving Licenses is part of the plan.

The cost of acquiring the digital driving license has been set at Sh 3,050 to the disdain of wananchi, who feel that the price is extremely exaggerated.

Wananchi are also questioning how the government will handle cases of drivers whose current DLs still have s0me way to go before their expiration dates.

As one Kenyan lamented on Twitter; he has just renewed his driving license and parted with Sh 1400, what happens to the money now that by July he’s expected to acquire the digital one as Sh 3,050?

Kiprono: Hey @ntsa_kenya I just renewed my license for 3 years today at a cost of 1450. Only to log in and find that again i have to acquire a smart DL at a cost of another 3050 before July 1st 2020. How will you account for the Ksh. 1450 that i paid today? #SmartDLDeadline

The new digital DL has been designed like a standard debit card and included personal details of the bearer including their blood type.

Motorists will now pay for minor traffic offenses with the new licenses, which will be structured like a standard debit card. According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the smart licenses will have a payment wallet that will enable traffic officers to collect fines from motorists via a gadget. The wallet can also be used for other payments like fuel.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) had first announced plans to introduce the much-touted smart driving licenses in 2017 but the plan never took off.

Below are some of the reactions shared on twitter today under the trending hashtag #SmartDLDeadline

Jared Ontita: This smells like #HudumaNumber fraud.. we’re making individuals rich.. What happens to those that have renewed for 3yrs? Is there a refund? #SmartDLDeadline

Dickson Kemboi:#SmartDLDeadline,we are a *** up state of some sort, stop cheating people by telling them the chip is special, its the same tech as ATM or any other out there, pricing it at 3050 is another epic scam, in fact with the numbers, this card should cost around 100 Ksh, or free.

RickyMozzartBecause I have a money tree growing in my garden! Why 3,050/-? This is another scam loading.

NTSA TO ROLL OUT DIGITAL DRIVING LICENCES NEXT MONTH