Motorists have started spotting vehicles carrying number plates with the new ‘KE’ prefix, as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) moves on from the previous ‘KD’ registration series.
The new plates have attracted attention on social media, with some motorists asking whether they can choose specific combinations such as KEG and KES.
However, NTSA has clarified that there has been no official launch of the ‘KE’ series.
An NTSA official told Kenyans.co.ke that the plates being seen on the roads are part of the normal process of issuing registration numbers to motorists whose vehicle registration applications are being processed.
The official said changing from one registration series to another is a routine administrative process and does not require a public unveiling.
The move from KD to KE simply means the available numbers under the previous series have been used up and the authority has moved to the next series.
The change does not introduce a new vehicle registration system or alter the existing number plate format.
It comes as new data from NTSA shows that 207,259 new motor vehicles were registered between January and June 2026.
January recorded the highest number of registrations at 37,650, followed by May with 36,299 and March with 35,798.
June recorded 35,334 registrations, while April had 34,041 and February had the lowest figure for the six-month period at 28,137.
Motorcycles made up a large share of the registrations during the period.
NTSA recorded 25,421 motorcycles in January, 16,030 in February, 22,439 in March and 22,374 in April. The number rose to 24,167 in May before slightly dropping to 22,696 in June.
Station wagons were the second-most registered category, with 42,808 units registered in the six months.
The data also covered other types of vehicles, including saloons, pick-ups, lorries, trailers, vans, buses, three-wheelers and wheeled tractors.
For motorists now receiving KE plates, there is no change in the registration process.
The new prefix is simply the next stage in Kenya’s existing vehicle registration system as NTSA continues allocating available number combinations.
