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NTSA makes vehicle inspections easier through technology upgrade

A file photo of an anti-drunk driving operation involving the police and officials of the National Transport and Safety Authority. (Photo: X/NTSA)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | Monday, July 1, 2024

Motorists can now book for inspections and make payments through the E-Citizen platform for a fee of Sh1,050.

All commercial vehicles, public service vehicles, and school buses are expected to undergo an annual motor inspection

Motor vehicle inspection is a mandatory process undertaken by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to ensure all vehicles comply with necessary safety requirements.

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All commercial vehicles, public service vehicles, and school buses are expected to undergo an annual motor inspection.

"Operating a vehicle without a valid inspection certificate is an offence, and law enforcement personnel are advised to take necessary action," says NTSA.

NTSA Director-General George Njau says the authority currently operates 17 inspection centres countrywide.

The authority’s audited financial report for the Financial Year 2023-2024 highlights significant improvements in motor vehicle inspections.

These advancements have streamlined processes, reduced inspection times, and enhanced customer service across all 19 motor vehicle inspection centres in Kenya.

To ensure compliance with safety standards, NTSA conducted 36 monthly roadside inspections across the country, in collaboration with the National Police Service during the period under review.

"During the joint enforcement operations, the authority also undertook a public awareness campaign to educate the public on requirements for motor vehicle inspections and the benefits of driving roadworthy vehicles," the report says.

In the 2020-21 and 2022-23 financial years, NTSA inspected 1,372,425 vehicles. These inspections covered pre-registration, changes in vehicle particulars, annual inspections, compliance inspections, and accident inspections.

NTSA and police conduct safety compliance checks along the Nairobi - Mombasa highway. (NTSA Kenya)

Getting your vehicle inspected

In a bid to improve efficiency, NTSA has implemented several key measures over the past few years, making the vehicle inspection process more user-friendly and efficient.

In January 2024, the authority introduced the use of tablets for motor vehicle inspections, which were procured in the 2019/2020 financial year. This means that the use of vehicle inspection check forms has been abolished, with inspectors now using tablets for verification exercises.

This technological upgrade has reduced the turnaround time for motor vehicle inspections from 30 minutes to less than 20 minutes. The steps involved in the internal processes have also been reduced to nine from the previous 25.

Motorists can now book for inspections and make payments through the E-Citizen platform for a fee of Sh1,050.

Inspectors use tablets for verification, eliminating the need for paper check forms.

To ensure transparency, inspectors upload photos of the vehicles during the inspection process. After a successful inspection, an e-sticker is issued, which is mandatory for all commercial and public service vehicles.

The validity of the inspection can be checked via the NTSA mobile app.

If a vehicle fails the inspection, owners have 13 days to fix the issues and get a re-inspection at no extra cost.

"For convenience, the inspection report is easily accessible and downloadable from the motor vehicle owner's account," NTSA says.