NAIROBI, Kenya- Owners of motor vehicles more than four years old will be required to book annual inspections beginning July 1 as Kenya rolls out new road safety regulations aimed at improving the condition of vehicles on the country’s roads.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) said the inspections will apply to all vehicles older than four years from their recorded date of manufacture, marking a significant expansion of mandatory inspections to include privately owned vehicles.
The requirement is contained in the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026, which require every vehicle older than four years, whether privately owned or government-owned, to undergo a roadworthiness inspection once every year. Commercial vehicles, public service vehicles (PSVs) and school buses will also continue to undergo annual inspections.
Under the new framework, motorists must book inspection appointments through NTSA before presenting their vehicles for testing.
The regulations also introduce inspections for vehicles involved in serious road accidents, those undergoing re-registration and vehicles whose ownership or registration details have changed.
Salvage vehicles will be subject to additional inspection and re-registration requirements before being allowed back on the road.
NTSA has also opened the door for licensed private vehicle inspection centres to operate alongside government facilities under a public-private partnership model, a move intended to increase inspection capacity across the country.
The authority has published a new fee structure for inspections.
Owners of vehicles with engine capacities of up to 3,000cc will pay a Sh1,000 booking fee to NTSA and an inspection fee of up to KSh1,000 charged by the inspection centre.
Motorcycle and three-wheeler owners will pay a total of Sh500, comprising a Sh200 booking fee and a maximum inspection fee of Sh300.
The government says the reforms are part of broader efforts to reduce road crashes by identifying mechanical defects early and ensuring vehicles remain roadworthy throughout their operational life.
The regulations follow months of stakeholder consultations and public participation after Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the government would decentralise inspection services to make compliance easier for motorists across all 47 counties.