By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya , June 30, 2026 - The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) will license 70 privately operated vehicle inspection centres across the country as part of sweeping reforms aimed at expanding inspection capacity, improving road safety and reducing congestion at government inspection facilities.
The move is anchored in the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026, which provide the legal framework for licensing private inspection centres under NTSA supervision as Kenya transitions to a more decentralized vehicle inspection system.
According to NTSA, the private centres will operate under strict regulatory oversight, with the Authority retaining responsibility for licensing, quality assurance, compliance audits and certification to ensure inspections meet national safety standards.
The reforms coincide with the rollout of mandatory annual inspections for vehicles more than four years old from their date of manufacture, with inspections commencing from July 1, 2026. Vehicle owners are required to book inspections through the NTSA service portal on the eCitizen platform.
The Authority says decentralizing inspection services will significantly improve access for motorists while reducing long queues that have historically characterized inspections at the limited number of government-operated centres.
"All motor vehicle owners with vehicles above four years from the recorded date of manufacture are therefore expected to book for annual inspection through the NTSA service portal accessible through the eCitizen platform," NTSA said in a public notice.
Under the new framework, licensed private inspection centres will carry out roadworthiness tests using standardized equipment and procedures approved by NTSA. Vehicles that pass inspection will receive official inspection certificates and stickers, while those that fail will be issued defect reports outlining repairs required before re-inspection.
The Authority believes the reforms will strengthen road safety by ensuring defective vehicles are identified and repaired before returning to Kenyan roads.
Beyond private vehicles, the regulations continue to cover Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), commercial vehicles, school buses, accident vehicles, imported used vehicles and vehicles that have undergone major structural modifications, all of which will continue to undergo mandatory inspections under the revised rules.
The licensing of private inspection centres is also expected to reduce the workload at existing NTSA inspection stations, improve service delivery and support the country's growing vehicle population, which now exceeds six million registered motor vehicles.
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The inspection programme forms part of broader government efforts to reduce road accidents linked to mechanical defects. According to NTSA, inspections will assess critical safety components including braking systems, steering mechanisms, suspension, tyres, lighting, emissions and the overall structural integrity of vehicles.
Motorists will pay a booking fee to NTSA alongside an inspection fee charged by the licensed inspection centre, with the charges varying depending on vehicle category. For most private vehicles, the booking fee is Sh1,000, while inspection centres may charge up to Sh1,000 for the inspection itself.
The Authority has emphasized that private inspection centres will not operate independently but under continuous NTSA supervision to safeguard integrity and maintain uniform inspection standards nationwide.
At the same time, NTSA has warned motorists against fraudsters claiming to offer inspection services outside the official framework.
"NTSA has a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption in all its operations. It is committed to acting professionally, fairly and with integrity," the Authority said, urging motorists to report anyone claiming they can fast-track inspection services through unofficial channels.
The licensing of private inspection centres is expected to play a key role in Kenya's wider transport modernization agenda by improving compliance with vehicle safety standards while making inspection services more accessible as the country implements the new nationwide inspection regime.