Kenya Jun 29–The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has issued a comprehensive clarification addressing public apprehensions and widespread inquiries surrounding the government’s upcoming directive to enforce mandatory annual safety inspections for private vehicles. The regulatory body announced that beginning July 1, all private vehicles older than four years will undergo compulsory yearly technical assessments at a standardized fee of Ksh.2,000 per vehicle, with commercial motorcycles similarly brought under the scope of mandatory compliance fees.
Amid mounting public friction and speculation, the NTSA clarified that specific inspection protocols will be meticulously calibrated according to different vehicle categories, urging citizens to verify official communiqués and refrain from disseminating misleading information.
To alleviate immediate anxieties among private motorists, the authority confirmed that traffic officers will not enforce these mandatory inspection certificates during routine road checks for the time being.
Similarly, administrators of school transport systems and commercial service vehicle operators will face no immediate punitive action or penalties for non-compliance during the initial phase.
“Information on enforcement and implementation of the aforementioned provisions/regulations will be communicated to the public in due course,” the Authority noted in its official statement.
The newly formulated inspection framework will also apply to locally assembled vehicles, vehicles undergoing structural or mechanical modifications, and those re-entering service following major road traffic accidents.
According to data provided by the NTSA, Kenya has a registry of over six million licensed vehicles. Based on the projected fee structure—which splits costs into a Ksh.1,000 booking fee and a Ksh.1,000 inspection fee—the state anticipates generating a minimum of Ksh.12 billion annually, assuming full compliance across eligible registration brackets.
NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa stated that the requirement for annual inspections is already firmly anchored in existing statutory legislation, though he acknowledged that a blanket 12-month timeline might present structural bottlenecks for high-mileage vehicles that spend considerable time on the road.
He further disclosed that the NTSA is aggressively expanding and upgrading its dedicated private vehicle inspection centers nationwide to scale up processing capacity ahead of the rollout.
However, the policy has drawn sharp rebuke from opposition figures. Jubilee Party Deputy Leader Fred Matiang’i and Democratic Congress for the People (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua criticized the directive, labeling it detached from the harsh economic realities confronting citizens already burdened by escalating fuel prices, insurance premiums, high school fees, and the rising cost of living.
Matiang’i has firmly demanded an immediate moratorium on the implementation of the policy until comprehensive public participation is conducted to resolve numerous unanswered structural questions.
He emphasized that the government must provide explicit transparency regarding the exact volume of vehicles impacted, verifiable revenue projections, data-driven proof that the measures will lower road mortality rates, and whether the NTSA possesses the institutional capacity to inspect millions of motorists without triggering catastrophic administrative delays.
“What safeguards are in place to ensure that this program does not become another avenue for rent-seeking and harassment of motorists?” he questioned in a statement released on Sunday.
Ultimately, this regulatory pivot underscores the shifting dynamics of Kenya’s transport sector as the state attempts to balance revenue generation with public safety imperatives. As the July deadline approaches, the success of the initiative will fundamentally hinge on the government’s capacity to address systemic transparency concerns and foster authentic public goodwill.
