The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) will implement a new mandatory vehicle inspection program nationwide after receiving approval for updated Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules designed to enhance road safety standards throughout the country.
These regulations establish a structured inspection system applicable to both private and commercial vehicles, representing one of the most substantial reforms in Kenya’s vehicle safety enforcement in recent times, particularly after the High Court rejected a petition attempting to halt the inspections.
Under this new framework, private vehicles exceeding four years old will now be obligated to pass mandatory inspections to verify their roadworthiness and adherence to safety standards.
Public service vehicles, school transportation, and commercial fleets will face more stringent controls, including annual inspections to maintain ongoing compliance and minimize road safety hazards.
The inspection regulations also extend compliance requirements to cover situations following road accidents, during ownership transfers, and when re-registering vehicles.
These regulations will also govern the classification and re-registration of salvage vehicles, guaranteeing that only roadworthy vehicles are permitted to return to the road.
Vehicles successfully passing inspections will receive inspection stickers serving as evidence of compliance during roadside enforcement activities.
Under these new regulations, NTSA will advance the implementation of provisions permitting the licensing of private vehicle inspection centers through a public-private partnership (PPP) approach to increase capacity and minimize service delivery delays.
The new system is anticipated to standardize safety and emissions testing, with established criteria for vehicle fitness across various categories of road users.
The government indicated last year that these reforms were intended to address growing concerns about unroadworthy vehicles on Kenyan roads, which have been associated with accidents and traffic violations.
These regulations also establish penalties for non-compliance, requiring vehicle owners who do not fulfill inspection requirements to face enforcement measures under traffic laws.
Concurrently, NTSA is prepared to launch supporting infrastructure, including expanded inspection centers and enhanced scheduling systems to accommodate increased demand once enforcement commences.