The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has directed that all second-hand vehicles imported from Japan and five other countries must be accompanied by roadworthiness certificates.
In a notice by the agency on Tuesday, November 15, KEBS indicated that the requirement will also apply to imported used cars from the United Kingdom, Thailand, Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Africa.
KEBS added that the certificates will be a requirement before the vehicles are registered and allowed to ply Kenyan roads.
Additionally, all the certificates accompanying the vehicles should have been issued not earlier than 2015.
The certificates are to be issued by the Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan.
"All vehicles issued with such certificates must arrive at the Port of destination or entry by December 31, 2022.
"Any vehicle registered in 2015 or earlier, arriving after December 31, 2022, will be deemed not compliant with KS 1515.2000 and shall be rejected at the importer's expense,' he stated.
Further, Kenyans planning on importing used vehicles were advised on the eight-year limit set to be implemented beginning January 1, 2023.
"We wish to notify all importers of used or secondhand motor vehicles including diplomatic staff that in observance of clause 2.5 of KS 1519 2000 on the eight (8) year age limit requirement.
"Only Right Hand Drive (RHD) motor vehicles whose Year of First Registration is from January 1, 2016, and later shall be allowed into the country effective January 1, 2023," read the statement in part.
KEBS explained that the directives were cognisant of the Kenya Standard Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles, and Legal Notice No. 78 of April 28, 2020.
Japan is a major exporter of cars to Kenya. According to Economics Global Centre, Trading Economics, Kenyans imported vehicles worth Ksh13 billion from Japan in 2021.
Common car models imported from Japan include Toyota, Subaru, Mazda and Honda.
