Government orders all public vehicles to switch to new number plates by August

The government has directed all public offices to ensure their vehicles are fitted with new generation number plates by August 29.

In a directive dated Wednesday, May 21, Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei said the order applies to all ministries, departments, agencies, state corporations, public universities, public schools and county governments. "Most public institutions have not complied with the rollout of the new number plates despite the security and identification improvements they offer," said Koskei.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) introduced the plates in October 2022 to help curb vehicle theft, boost road safety and align with international standards.  The plates include an electronic chip that stores vehicle details.

This comes barely a month after motorists across the country were handed relief following confirmation by NTSA that a fresh batch of number plates had been delivered, easing a backlog that had caused delays in recent months.