KEBS sets new rules for importing used vehicles, effective January 2025
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
Under the updated guidelines, only right-hand drive vehicles whose first registration was on or after January 1, 2018, will be allowed into the country.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has issued a public notice to all importers of used and second-hand motor vehicles, detailing new regulations that will come into effect on January 1, 2025.
Under the updated guidelines, only right-hand drive vehicles whose first registration was on or after January 1, 2018, will be allowed into the country.
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This is in line with the Kenya Standard Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles (KS 1515:2000), which includes an age limit for vehicles imported into the country.
According to KEBS, vehicles registered before 2017 will no longer be permitted to enter Kenya after the new rules take effect.
"In compliance with the Kenya Standards, we are enforcing the eight-year age limit on all used motor vehicles entering Kenya. This is aimed at improving road safety and ensuring better-quality vehicles on our roads," said KEBS Director of Quality Assurance, John Mwangi.
The new regulations also affect how vehicles are certified before importation. Vehicles from countries where KEBS has an inspection agency, including Japan, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, must present a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR) from a KEBS-approved inspection service.
For vehicles registered in 2017, the CoR will only be valid until December 31, 2024.
"Any vehicle that arrives in Kenya after that date with a 2017 registration will not be accepted, and the importer will bear the costs of rejection," KEBS added in the statement.
KEBS also stressed that the regulations are part of a broader effort to align Kenya's vehicle inspection standards with international practices and reduce the importation of outdated, substandard vehicles.
"We are committed to ensuring that vehicles entering Kenya meet the highest safety and environmental standards, to protect both road users and the environment," Mwangi added.
Importers, including returning residents and diplomatic staff, are urged to adhere to the new rules and ensure that their vehicles comply with the required specifications to avoid costly rejections at the port of entry.
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