The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is set to roll out new vehicle inspection rules after being cleared by the high court to enforce new traffic regulations following a ruling by Justice Maureen Odero.
This high court decision dismisses a petition challenging the Traffic (Registration and Licensing) Rules 2023 and Traffic (Inspection) Rules 2023, allowing full implementation of the reforms.
In its judgment, the court ruled that the government followed the law in developing the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2025, and provided adequate opportunities for public input.
“The claim that the respondent failed to publish the Regulatory Impact Statements is a blatant untruth,” the court ruled, noting the documents were officially gazetted and accessible.
New NTSA Vehicle Inspection Rules for Motorists in Kenya
According to NTSA, the new rules introduce mandatory inspections for private vehicles older than 4 years.
Commercial, public service, and school vehicles will be required to undergo annual inspections to ensure compliance with road safety standards.
Further, the regulations require vehicle inspections at specific stages, including after accidents, during re-registration, and upon changes in ownership. This is aimed at ensuring continued roadworthiness across different vehicle use cases.
In addition, the framework allows licensing of private inspection centers under a public-private partnership model.
It also sets uniform safety and emissions standards and introduces penalties for non-compliance, aiming to improve safety, reduce road accidents, and lower vehicle emissions.
What The New Rules Mean for Motorists in Kenya
This new NTSA framework expands inspection requirements to include private vehicles, requiring regular checks to confirm continued roadworthiness as vehicles age.
It introduces routine compliance for individual motorists that was previously focused mainly on commercial operators.
Further, stricter oversight is maintained for high-risk transport categories such as public service vehicles, taxis, and commercial fleets, reflecting their higher exposure to passengers and road use.
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School transport is also placed under tighter scrutiny to strengthen safety standards for children.
Additionally, vehicles involved in serious accidents will now be required to undergo inspection before being cleared to return to the road, ensuring that structural and mechanical safety is verified after major incidents.
According to NTSA, inspection services will be decentralized through licensed private centers to support enforcement.
Court Dismisses Petition Against NTSA Vehicle Inspection Rules
The case, filed by the Road Safety Association of Kenya, argued that the process lacked proper public participation.
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In its ruling, the court said that the government followed legal procedures in developing the regulations, including publishing the draft rules in the Kenya Gazette and conducting nationwide stakeholder consultations.
It found that members of the public were given adequate opportunity to submit views through forums and written memoranda.
The court further found that public participation had been conducted in phases, including nationwide stakeholder forums held between February and March 2023.
“A public participation exercise open to all was conducted,” the court said.
