The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has announced the validation of used vehicle importation documents as a strategy to stop the purchase of vehicles using forged documents.
The validation exercise is also to ensure that all used vehicles being imported into the country are not more than eight years old from the year of first registration.
In a notice published on July 8, the bureau stated that the validation exercise would commence from July 14 to clamp down on imported vehicles without a certificate of roadworthiness.
According to KEBS, all vehicle importers must meet the standard code of practice, which requires inspection of vehicles before importation or registration.
In its announcement, the Bureau of Standards directed Kenyans with imported vehicles to validate their documents, such as logbooks, export certificates and deregistration certificates with a reliable and authorised entity.
According to KEBS, those seeking validation of their import documents will be required to pay Ksh12,000 as an authentication fee. The amount is to be paid by the importer to the local inspection offices, either in Nairobi or Mombasa.
"This will help prevent cases of importation of motor vehicles with forged or fraudulently acquired documents," KEBS stated.
"Importers of used vehicles not accompanied by a certificate of roadworthiness are required to submit copies of the logbook or export certificate from the country of last registration to any of the local offices for validation," it added.
In Nairobi County, motorists were urged to submit their documents for validation at the Flamingo Towers, which is located along Mara Road in Upper Hill.
Meanwhile, in Mombasa, those seeking document validation were directed to visit the KEBS offices located opposite Bliss Medical Centre along Kizingo Estate.
"Only used motor vehicles with validated import documents will be subjected to destination inspection by KEBS, effective July 14, 2025," the bureau announced.
Importers of used vehicles were urged to comply with the directive to avoid potential inconveniences such as delays in vehicle registration and penalties.
