The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has dismissed reports that private companies have been licensed to conduct vehicle inspections ahead of the July 1 rollout of mandatory annual inspections for private vehicles.
In a statement issued on Friday, the authority clarified that no private inspection centre has been accredited to offer the service, urging motorists to ignore any claims suggesting otherwise.
“NTSA wishes to clarify that no private motor vehicle inspection centre has been licensed to inspect vehicles,” the authority said.
The clarification comes just days before the implementation of new inspection regulations that will require privately owned vehicles that are more than four years old to undergo annual roadworthiness inspections.
The authority said all inspections will continue to be carried out at designated NTSA inspection centres until the licensing process for private inspection facilities is completed.
NTSA warned motorists against dealing with individuals or firms claiming to have been authorised to conduct inspections, noting that the approval process for private inspection centres is still ongoing.
The July 1 rollout is part of the government’s efforts to enhance road safety by ensuring vehicles on Kenyan roads meet the required mechanical and safety standards. The new regulations target ageing vehicles, which have often been linked to mechanical failures that contribute to road accidents.
Under the new framework, owners of private vehicles older than four years will be required to present their vehicles for inspection every year before renewing their licences.
The authority has maintained that introducing annual inspections will help identify defective vehicles early, improve compliance with safety standards and reduce accidents caused by mechanical faults.
NTSA further advised motorists to rely only on official communication channels for updates on the inspection programme and the eventual licensing of private inspection centres.
The clarification is expected to ease confusion among motorists who had anticipated that privately operated inspection centres would begin offering the service from July 1.
Once the licensing process is complete, NTSA is expected to announce the list of approved private inspection centres that will complement the existing government facilities in carrying out vehicle inspections across the country.
