CS Michael Kamau unveils tamper-proof number plates

By RAWLINGS OTIENO

NAIROBI, KENYA: Motorists will soon have new number plates with special security features, Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau has said.

Kamau said that the new number plates would bear the name of the owner, vehicle registration number and the Kenyan flag.

The number plates will be reflected on the car engine, front and rear and a third one will be placed on the windscreen.

“The Government had floated the idea of changing the new number plates in 2006. The plates will have security features that will be tamper-proof, especially to those who keep changing number plates,” said Kamau.

The CS made the remarks during a tour at the Kamiti Maximum Prison Monday, where the number plates will be manufactured.

NEW MACHINE

Kamau maintained that the programme will be rolled out and the current number plates changed on all vehicles once the machine for manufacturing the plates is installed at the correctional facility.

“We will make an overhaul of the current vehicle number plates once we install the machine. This will take time but hopefully, we will change for all vehicles,” said Kamau.

According to Kamau, Kamiti Prison has already procured two machines at the cost of Sh15 million from Germany.

It is expected that the two machines will be able to produce at least 200 number plates per hour and will be operated on a 12-hour basis per day.

And to keep carjackers at bay, police officers will only use a barcode reader to ascertain the owner and the correct number plate of vehicles.

Kamau was accompanied by Transport PS Nduva Muli and Prisons Commandant Isaiah Osugo.

He said road carnage had declined following a ban on the night travel.

Kamau disclosed that so far only three bus companies have applied for night travel licences and have been instructed to install tracking devices and comply with other conditions before they are allowed to ferry passengers at night.

On the issue of the digital speed governors, Kamau said that he had approved a specific type of speed governor to be installed in all Public Service Vehicles before April 1, this year.

This means that traders in speed governors will make a killing by hiking the price during the deadline rush from motorists.

LOWER COST

But Kamau maintained that this will not happen, since he has allowed any business person or companies to import that specific type of speed governors, an idea he say will help lower the cost of the gadget.

Initially, the speed governors would have cost Sh50,000 if only a few people were given licences to retail the gadgets but now with more opportunity to import, the cost is expected to reduce to between Sh12,000 and Sh15,000.