Motorists across the country will first undergo a nationwide public awareness campaign before the government rolls out the proposed mandatory annual inspection for vehicles.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the Ministry is currently consulting different stakeholders to make sure the new inspection rules are practical and clearly understood by vehicle owners before they are fully implemented.
Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation in Mombasa on Friday, Chirchir assured MPs that the government had listened to concerns raised over the proposed Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026.
“We have taken note of all your sentiments and input. We will engage this Committee to ensure the regulations are practical and effective,” Chirchir told lawmakers.
According to the guidelines from the National Transport and Safety Authority, all private cars above four years old must get an annual inspection.
It is expected that the new regulations will alter the existing inspection period from once in two years to one in a year. According to the government, the initiative will help increase road safety through the identification of mechanical faults before causing accidents.
According to NTSA, commercial service vehicles continue to contribute to many serious road crashes due to poor maintenance, driver fatigue, overloading and weak enforcement of safety standards.
The committee headed by Samuel Chepkonga examined a number of proposals regarding traffic laws, among them laws pertaining to school bus transport, commercial vehicle services, drunk-driving, and motor vehicle inspection.
In their debate, the MPs wondered about the government’s ability to undertake the inspection of all vehicles in all the 47 counties after the enactment of these laws.
Committee Vice Chairman Robert Gichimu wondered if the ministry would have to give itself some extra time before the inspection centers could be set up in all parts of the country.
On this issue, Chirchir disclosed that one motor vehicle inspection center would cost the government an amount of Kshs 300 million, which is the reason why the government plans to engage the services of privately owned centers.
Simultaneously, Chepkonga raised fears about the delay in the removal of stalled vehicles on our highways, noting that the problem continues to pose danger to motorists, leading to fatal accidents.
“You must sort out the matter concerning the length of time it should take for a stalled vehicle to be removed from the highway,” Chepkonga added.
The proposed inspection rules have already sparked debate among motorists, with some supporting the move as a way of improving safety on Kenyan roads while others fear it could increase the cost of owning vehicles.