The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has announced new conditions for Kenyans who seek to import and register special-purpose and left-handed vehicles that are over eight years old.
Special-purpose vehicles include ambulances, fire trucks and large construction vehicles. Meanwhile, the government has also restricted the importation of left-handed vehicles into the country.
While KEBS restricted the importation of such vehicles, specifically those that are over 8 years old, the bureau has announced an age limit waiver for importers of special-purpose vehicles.
In a notice dated Tuesday, June 24, KEBS outlined three conditions for an importer to receive a waiver for the importation of special-purpose vehicles and left-hand vehicles that are over 8 years old.
For an individual to import a special-purpose vehicle that is more than 8 years old, they must first provide proof that the vehicle has been customised for the intended purpose.
An importer of the aforementioned vehicles must also furnish KEBS with a record of the vehicle's serviceability, showing the vehicle's history of maintenance.
Additionally, a person in need of the waiver must provide evidence that the special-purpose or left-handed vehicle being imported has not been used for 20 years from the year of manufacture.
To receive the waiver certificate, KEBS urged importers of the said vehicle categories to apply before shipping the said units into the country to avoid inconveniences.
"Details regarding the waiver requirements for the importation of special-purpose vehicles are available on www.kebs.org, and all stakeholders are advised to review and familiarise themselves with these requirements before initiating any importation process," KEBS announced.
"All importers of special-purpose vehicles are encouraged to apply for and obtain the requisite waivers before shipping the said units into the country to avoid inconveniences. Please be guided accordingly," it added
It is worth noting that KEBS manages the Pre-export Verification of Conformity (PEVCO) to ensure vehicles being imported into the country adhere to the set standards.
Vehicles that fail to meet the required standards are always stopped from entering the country, with vehicle owners often left to bear the cost.
