A court has lifted a ban imposed by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) on importation of second-hand buses and lorries .
Environment and Land Court Judge Oscar Angote issued the temporary orders, pending the hearing of a suit filed by activist Okiya Omtatah.
“An order is hereby issued to suspend the public notice on implementation of KS 1515:2019,” reads the order.
Kebs had planned to ban importation of buses and trucks beginning July 1, this year.
“All used passenger minibuses, large buses, single articulated and bi-articulated business and double-decker buses shall not be allowed for importation,” Kebs said in a statement.
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In the petition, Omtatah sued Kebs and Trade and Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary.
He termed the move by Kebs as discriminatory and invalid.
However, Kebs on its part said that the move is aimed at increasing safety on the roads.
According to Omtatah, it makes no sense that Clause 6.1 exempts new vehicles based on the lower Euro IV/4 (Euro 4) emissions standard, but prohibits importation of used vehicles, manufactured within eight years or earlier, which comply with the higher Euro 5 emissions standard implemented by the year 2011.
The petitioner wants the notice by Kebs reversed in totality.