Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang’i has called on the government to suspend the proposed mandatory annual vehicle inspection charges, terming the move insensitive and unfair to Kenyans already facing high costs of living.
In a statement on Sunday, Matiang’i said road safety is important but argued that the new charges introduced by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) must be supported by evidence, transparency and consideration of citizens’ economic challenges.
He noted that the NTSA directive requiring private vehicles older than four years to undergo annual inspections for Sh2,000 per vehicle would add more pressure on households and businesses already struggling with rising expenses.
“The proposed mandatory annual vehicle inspection charges are insensitive and unfair,” Matiang’i said.
He acknowledged that road safety remains a key national concern, saying Kenyans want safer roads, fewer accidents and vehicles that meet acceptable safety standards. However, he argued that public policies must be based on evidence, transparency and consideration of the economic situation facing citizens.
“The proposed inspection regime fails that test,” he said.
Matiang’i said motorists are already dealing with high fuel prices, multiple taxes and levies, increased insurance costs, expensive spare parts, parking charges, licensing fees and the general rise in the cost of living.
He noted that introducing another compulsory annual payment without demonstrating its necessity places yet another financial burden on households and businesses that are already under immense pressure.
He called on the government to suspend the implementation of the directive and allow a comprehensive public review before it takes effect.
Matiang’i questioned how many private vehicles would be affected by the policy, how much revenue the government expects to collect annually and what evidence shows that annual inspections for vehicles older than four years would reduce road accidents.
He also raised questions on the causes of road crashes, including the role of mechanical defects compared with human error, poor road engineering and traffic congestion.
The former Interior Cabinet Secretary also questioned whether NTSA has enough inspection capacity to serve millions of motorists without creating delays and opportunities for corruption.
He further asked what measures had been put in place to prevent the programme from becoming another avenue for rent-seeking and harassment of motorists.
“Road safety cannot be reduced to the collection of inspection fees,” Matiang’i said.
He said the government should instead address wider causes of road accidents, including reckless driving, speeding, drunk driving, poor road design, inadequate road maintenance, weak enforcement of traffic laws and congestion.
“Vehicle condition is only one part of a much larger road safety strategy,” he said.
He added that the government should publish the data, policy analysis, cost-benefit assessment and implementation plan supporting the directive before imposing additional costs on citizens.
“This is also a constitutional issue. Public power must always be exercised reasonably, proportionately and in the public interest. Citizens should never be treated merely as sources of revenue,” he said and urged Parliament to scrutinise the policy and require NTSA to provide all supporting evidence before implementation.
“Jubilee Party stands firmly with Kenyan motorists, transport operators, small businesses and ordinary families who continue to shoulder an ever-growing burden of taxes, fees and levies.”
He said Kenya’s economic recovery would not be achieved through continuous introduction of new charges on citizens but through economic growth, job creation, fighting corruption, improving public services and restoring confidence between citizens and the State.
“We call upon all Kenyans to reject this policy in its current form and to demand a transparent, evidence-based and affordable road safety framework that protects both lives and livelihoods,” he said.
“Road safety is essential. Excessive financial extraction is not.”
The remarks come as NTSA prepares to introduce mandatory annual vehicle inspections from July 1, 2026, under the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026.
Under the new regulations, all privately owned and government vehicles older than four years from the date of manufacture will be required to undergo an inspection test once every year.
NTSA says Kenya has more than six million registered vehicles. Based on the authority’s charges, the government could potentially collect at least Sh12 billion annually if all registered vehicles fell under the categories paying the set Sh1,000 booking fee and Sh1,000 inspection fee.
However, the actual amount collected could be lower because some vehicles, including motorcycles and three-wheelers, attract lower charges of Sh200 booking fee and Sh300 inspection fee.
The regulations exempt tractors used exclusively for agricultural purposes, golf carts, motorised pedal cycles and all-terrain vehicles from inspection.
Vehicles intended for re-registration, alternative ownership transfers or those missing from NTSA’s online records will also be required to undergo inspection.
Motorists whose vehicles pass the inspection will receive an inspection sticker, while operating a vehicle on public roads without a valid sticker will be an offence punishable under the Traffic Act.
Vehicles that fail inspection will be issued a defect inspection report showing repairs required before another inspection.
The rules provide a 14-day grace period where re-inspection at the same inspection centre will be done free of charge. Owners seeking re-inspection after the 14 days or at a different inspection centre will be required to pay fresh charges.
A person convicted of offences under the regulations risks imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, a fine not exceeding Sh20,000, or both.
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