NTSA to Inspect Vehicles Older than 4 Years

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has told Members of Parliament that the government plans to introduce new traffic rules that will require stricter inspection of vehicles in Kenya, especially those that are more than four years old.

Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation, Chirchir said the proposed changes are meant to modernise the transport sector and improve road safety across the country. The new regulations include the Traffic (Commercial Service Vehicle) Rules, 2026, Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026, Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026, and Traffic (Drink Driving) Regulations, 2026.

The committee, chaired by Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga, reviewed the draft laws aimed at reducing road accidents and improving enforcement on Kenyan roads.

Chirchir also revealed that setting up a single motor vehicle inspection centre costs more than KSh 300 million. Because of this high cost, the government plans to allow private companies to run approved inspection centres across the country to make services more accessible.

Under the new plan, all private vehicles older than four years will be inspected every year. This will replace the current system where inspections are done after every two years. The government says this move will help detect mechanical problems early and reduce accidents caused by unsafe vehicles.

The proposed rules also introduce stricter controls for school transport vehicles, tougher penalties for drunk driving, and new licensing requirements for operators of commercial vehicles.

According to the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), commercial vehicles continue to contribute to many fatal road accidents due to poor maintenance, overloading, driver fatigue, and weak enforcement of traffic laws.

Chirchir defended the reforms, saying they are necessary to ensure accountability among drivers and transport operators while improving safety standards in the sector.

In a related update, NTSA also announced plans to introduce electronic logbooks starting June 2026. The new system will replace paper logbooks with digital records featuring QR codes for quick verification of vehicle ownership and status.

The e-logbook system is expected to make it easier to transfer vehicle ownership online without visiting NTSA offices, while also improving security and reducing fraud in vehicle records.

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