The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on Thursday, May 8, directed motorists to collect their processed number plates following a recent nationwide shortage.
While addressing the press, NTSA Board Chairperson Khatib Mwashetani confirmed that a significant number of vehicle number plates had already been delivered to NTSA offices and were awaiting collection.
According to Mwashetani, the Authority had sent text notifications to applicants, urging them to visit their designated NTSA offices to pick up the plates.
"Clients who have received a text message to collect the plates they had applied for have been urged to pick them up at the offices they had picked," Mwashetani revealed.
Echoing Mwashetani's sentiments, NTSA Director General George Njao assured vehicle dealers and the public that the shortage experienced over the past few months has now been resolved.
Njao emphasised that the production of number plates had stabilised, and the Authority was working diligently to ensure a consistent supply of these essential goods moving forward.
While commending Kenyans for their patience, the NTSA Director General explained that the shortage of digital number plates had been caused by a lack of sufficient raw materials.
“The concerns from the public and stakeholders were valid, and we appreciate their patience. We are now back on track, and clients can expect timely services,” Njao reiterated.
The move to address the number plate shortage comes just a week after some vehicle dealers in Nairobi and other major towns in Kenya expressed concerns over the abrupt scarcity of the items.
Currently, the cost of applying for a standard number plate is Ksh 2,050, while that of a digital number plate is Ksh 3,050. Meanwhile, Kenyans seeking to acquire customised number plates are required to pay up to Ksh1 million.
This is not the first time the Transport Authority has been hit by number plate shortage. In August 2024, a similar scenario took place which saw several vehicles business crippled.
However, NTSA swiftly resolved the matter but accused some motorists of intentionally delaying to collect their number plates on time despite receiving notifications about the same.
