The government has launched a new generation of number plates that offer significant improvements over the existing ones.
Among notable enhancements is the use of embedded technology to augment local security and curb tax evasion.
The new generation plates were unveiled today by Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, his colleagues Fred Matiangi (Interior and Coordination of National Government), and Joe Mucheru (ICT). During the launch at the GSU Recce unit Headquarters in Ruiru, Matiangi asserted that the government is revising the number plates as one way to address the country’s rampant insecurities. The secretary added that the move is aimed at helping “other agencies such as the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) function properly.”
The main feature of the revised plates is security enhancements, whereby they use embedded microchips containing crucial information about the vehicle, including insurance and tax details. Security agencies will have the capability to read the microchips remotely. Specifically, these microchips are expected to operate through the RFID (radio frequency identification) technology, allowing instant identification through electromagnetic fields. It is not clear yet which agencies will have access to the information within these chips.
The new plates will also incorporate a Kenyan flag, QR Code, and an NTSA serial number. Aesthetically, the plates will sport new fonts and design, a noteworthy upgrade over their current insipid counterparts.
The refresh is in line with the Traffic Act of 2016, which allows NTSA to use information technology to carry out its mandate. The intent is to help the regulator keep up with current technological advancements in the transportation sector.
The transition is expected to be complete within the next 18 months. Vehicle owners will be required to pay Ksh3,000 for the new plates. Matiangi insisted, “when the NTSA team
calls on Kenyans to change the plates, let us obey and get it done within those 18 months.”It is yet to be seen how the new plates will be received by Kenyans, especially following the failure of the infamous National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS).