NTSA registers 4,700 vehicles in a week as deadline for unregistered cars passes
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
The agency noted that unregistered vehicles would face strict penalties under the Traffic Act, which forbids driving vehicles without registration or number plates.
In a last-minute scramble, car owners have registered 4,700 vehicles within a week to avoid hefty fines of up to Sh300,000, following a directive from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
The directive, which sought to address the increasing number of unregistered vehicles on Kenyan roads, came with a firm warning - vehicles not registered by the deadline would be banned from use.
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The NTSA as reported by Business Daily disclosed the registration figures on Monday, as the window closed, marking the end of the two-week deadline.
The agency noted that unregistered vehicles would face strict penalties under the Traffic Act, which forbids driving vehicles without registration or number plates.
Those found in violation of this law risk a fine of up to Sh300,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.
"We have registered 4,700 motor vehicles since the deadline was issued. NTSA does not have the exact estimate of unregistered vehicles since the applications have not been lodged into the motor vehicle registration portal," said Cosmas Ngeso, the director of registration and licensing at NTSA.
The crackdown follows concerns over the rise in criminal activities linked to unregistered vehicles, including terrorism, kidnappings, and robberies.
Additionally, the use of temporary "KD" (Kenya Dealers) plates, which can only be used between 6 am and 6 pm, has raised alarm among law enforcement, as many vehicles are operating with fake plates or without proper registration.
Despite fears that all unregistered vehicles would be impounded once the deadline passed, NTSA has remained vague on its next course of action.
However, the agency has reassured the public that it is monitoring the situation closely.
The 4,700 vehicles registered in the past week represent only a tenth of the total number of vehicles listed between January and September of this year, excluding motorcycles and three-wheelers.
The rush to register highlights the growing pressure on car owners to comply with the law, with many keen to avoid the significant financial and legal consequences.
As the registration window closed, car dealers, some of whom have accused NTSA of abetting the proliferation of unregistered vehicles, continue to call for clearer guidelines and greater collaboration with the authorities to address the issue.
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