Outrage as Gov't proposes mandatory inspection of vehicles older than 4 years

The Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has unveiled four draft regulations targeting private car owners, commercial drivers, school transport operators, and PSVs.

If adopted, the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules 2025 will make it mandatory for all vehicles older than four years to undergo regular inspections — a major shift in Kenya’s road safety policy.

"Gari ziende inspection ndio tupunguze accidents. Zote zifanyiwe checkups… ata kama inawacost, iko tu sawa, hiyo ni tax," Joseph Atanus, a vehicle owner, stated. 

"Waachane na inspection. Ajali barabarani ni juu ya madereva careless na walevi. Sheria ilenge walevi," Douglas Momanyi, another car owner, pointed out. 

And it won’t stop there. Vehicles will also face inspections when sold and after an accident.

"Hii kitu wanasema sioni kama itasaidia. Hapo kwa inspection ni kukulia tu. Gari ya 4 years si mzee, ni kuwekelea Wakenya mzigo," Momanyi added.

Private car owners currently pay Ksh.1,000 for inspection. With over 2.5 million registered vehicles — 1.5 million privately owned, most older than four years — Kenyans claim the government could collect billions per cycle, questioning why the law targets four-year-old cars when imports of up to eight years are still legal.

"Hii ni njia ya kufinya wananchi na kuchukua pesa kwa wananchi, na tayari uchumi ni mbaya," Momanyi highlighted. 

The inspections will be done at approved testing centres, with private facilities licensed and regulated.

Only vehicles with official inspection stickers will be cleared to operate. Motorists say that while road safety is important, the government must stop using every crisis as a cash cow.

"Inspection haitasaidia. Ata gari iwe mpya ama mzee, reckless driving ndio huleta ajali. Inspection haisaidii chochote," Julius Obiro, a transporter, remarked. 

The proposed laws will reintroduce alcohol tests using approved breathalysers, blood, and urine samples, with refusal to comply punishable by law. The proposals are open to public comment for 14 days.