Starting soon, no four-year-old private car, no PSV, and no second-hand import will legally ply Kenyan roads without passing a strict NTSA inspection. The High Court has just cleared the way.

In a landmark ruling that dismisses a petition seeking to block the move, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has secured the legal nod to roll out the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2025 — one of the most sweeping road safety reforms in a decade.

The new regime tears up the old voluntary, patchy system. Under the approved framework, every private vehicle aged four years or older must undergo mandatory fitness tests. Public service vehicles, school vans, and commercial fleets face even tighter noose: annual inspections without fail.

But that’s not all. The rules now rope in critical lifecycle moments — after a crash, during ownership transfer, or when re-registering a salvage vehicle. If a car has been written off and rebuilt, NTSA will decide if it deserves a second chance on tarmac.

Vehicles that pass will receive inspection stickers — a visible badge of compliance that roadside enforcers will hunt for. Fail, and owners face penalties under traffic laws.

To avoid bottlenecks, NTSA will license private inspection centres through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The goal? More bays, shorter queues, less bribery.

The government argues that unroadworthy vehicles — bald tyres, faulty brakes, smoky exhausts — have fuelled too many fatal crashes and traffic violations. Now, science and standards will replace guesswork.

For used car importers, salvage dealers, and matatu owners, the message is clear: comply or park.