Effective January 1, Kenya will no longer import used motor vehicles registered before 2019, the government has announced in a move that could shake up the country's multibillion-shilling second-hand car market.
In a notice on Thursday, November 13, the Kenya Bureau of Standards announced that only right-hand drive vehicles first registered in 2019 or later would be allowed into the country.
According to the authority, the new rule was in line with the eight-year vehicle age limit under the Kenya Standard Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles (KS 1515:2000).
"Pursuant to the provision of KS 1515:2000 – Kenya Standard Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles, and Legal Notice No.78 of 28th April 2020 – The Verification of Conformity to Kenya Standards of Imports Order, we wish to notify all importers of used/second-hand motor vehicles, including returning residents, diplomatic staff and the general public, that in observance of clause 2.5 of KS 1515:2000 on the eight (8) year age limit requirement, only Right Hand Drive (RHD) motor vehicles whose year of first registration is from 1st January 2019 and later shall be allowed into the country effective 1st January 2026," KEBS said in a statement.
The move, according to KEBS, was part of the government's efforts to enhance road safety standards and curb the growing importation of older vehicles, which tend to produce higher emissions, thus failing to meet environmental and mechanical safety thresholds.
A lifeline for vehicles whose registration pre-dates 2019 is that they need to arrive at Kenyan ports by December 31, 2025, accompanied by a valid certificate of roadworthiness (COR)
Otherwise, any vehicle registered in 2018 or earlier which fails to meet the timeline will be considered non-compliant with the Kenya Standards Code of Practice for Inspection of Road vehicles and will effectively be rejected at the importer's expense.
"Vehicles exported to Kenya shall be expected to comply with KS 1515:2000 Kenya Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles, while vehicles from countries where KEBS has an inspection agency (i.e. Japan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Thailand, Singapore, and South Africa) shall be accompanied with a Certificate of Roadworthiness (COR) issued by Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ), which is an inspection company contracted by KEBS," the authority added.
For car importers, obtaining a COR is a tedious process involving thorough mechanical inspection of a vehicle for the brakes, engine, steering, suspension and other components to ensure they are in proper working condition.
The process also involves documentation verification, which is meant to confirm that the vehicle's registration and papers match the inspection records.
This is the latest move by the government to tighten its car import rules, coming just months after a cap was placed on the importation of vehicles manufactured before 2018.
One major benefit of the new rules is that local assembly plants are expected to gain from a significant reduction in competition from imports. Importation of newer units also encourages the use of safer and more efficient vehicles.
