Uproar over NTSA's plan to inspect private cars

Motorists will soon be forced to dig deeper into their already strained pockets to keep their cars on the road as the government rolls out mandatory and costly inspections for all vehicles.

The publication of The Traffic (Motor vehicle inspection) Rules, 2026, has paved the way for the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to begin inspecting private vehicles.

Previously, mandatory inspections by NTSA mainly targeted commercial vehicles, including those used for school transport.

However, under the new rules, all vehicles that are more than four years-old from the date of manufacture or assembly will be subject to annual inspection by the NTSA starting July 1, 2026.

“All motor vehicle owners with vehicles above four years from the recorded date of manufacture are therefore expected to book for annual inspection through the NTSA service portal accessible via the eCitizen platform,” said NTSA Director General Eng Nashon Kondiwa in a statement dated June 26.

However, the Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) has criticised the move, describing it as an absolute travesty. The association argues that the government should instead focus on uninspected vehicles, poor maintenance standards and the deteriorating state of roads, many of which have become impassable.

MAK argues that the poor state of roads is the main cause of rising vehicle maintenance costs, saying potholes and dilapidated roads damage shock absorbers, bushes, rack ends and stabilisers.

“Modern private vehicles are manufactured to global standards and their owners are far more diligent in maintenance than any state inspector could be. To suggest otherwise is an insult to their intelligence and care,” the association said.

MAK further argued that NTSA inspectors are operating with outdated approaches in an era when the motoring industry has embraced artificial intelligence and digital technologies. The move is also being viewed by critics as a revival of the controversial 2024 motor vehicle tax proposal, which sparked widespread opposition during the Gen Z protests and contributed to the eventual withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024 after it was passed by the National Assembly but not assented to by the President.

Enforcement date

The proposal sought to introduce a  motor vehicle tax equivalent to 2.5 per cent of a vehicle’s value, with a minimum charge of Sh5,000 and a maximum of Sh100,000. Although the National Assembly later removed the ceiling, the proposal remained unpopular among many Kenyans and helped fuel the June 25 protests that culminated in the storming of Parliament.

At least 65 people were confirmed dead during the nationwide protests. The proposed motor vehicle tax was among several contentious provisions in the Finance Bill 2024 that triggered public outrage.

However, Kondiwa said the enforcement date for the new inspection directive will be communicated later, giving vehicle owners some relief as the agency explores ways to manage the large number of vehicles expected to undergo inspection.

“NTSA has not yet licensed any private entity to offer motor vehicle inspection services,” he said.

Critics, however, view the move as another attempt by the government to stretch the financial burden on Kenyans and generate additional revenue from motorists.

Under the rules published by NTSA, the average motorist will pay at least Sh2,000 for the mandatory inspection. This comprises Sh1,000 for booking the service through the eCitizen platform and another Sh1,000 payable at the inspection centre.

The Sh2,000 fee applies to vehicles with an engine capacity of less than 3,000cc, which covers the majority of private cars, as well as electric vehicles with a battery capacity exceeding 151 kilowatt hours.