Naturally, human beings were designed to care about social status, especially, those that shape how we are viewed, received and recognised.
So, when it comes to buying the most preferred car, the ideal drive is about the badge as much as where the wheels can get the owner.
While it's almost impossible to quantify how much we value status, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is giving a reason to enlist a number of plates of a status symbol, just for fun and preference.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is encouraging motorists to consider acquiring personalised number plates that read the preferred name of the owner.
"The process is applicable to registered owners of motor vehicles with civilian registration numbers who want to be issued with personalised number plates.
"The vehicle must have been registered with civilian numbers. The process does not apply to Public Service Vehicles (PSV) and Commercial Motor Vehicles," NTSA explained.
It's important to note that there is no practical or aesthetic difference between plates which are just numbers that have been increasing over time as they’re issued and other those that read the name of the owners of the cars.
Application Process:
1. Go to www(dot)ntsa(dot)go(dot)ke.
2. Select the preference service portal.
3. Log in to access the TIMS account.
4. Upload all the relevant documents (request letter and original logbook).
5. Submit the application for NTSA verification and approval.
6. After successful approval, log into your TIMS account and make payments.
7. Once the application is complete, click 'Submit'.
It's worth noting that the names of political parties, derogatory names, and names that provoke ethnic or racial tensions are not allowed.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) explained that the number plate is not transferable to another party.
However, the person seeking customised number plates will have to pay Ksh1,000,000 and wait for five working days.
Among the people with personalised number plates include former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, flamboyant lawyer Donald Kipkorir, international football stars MacDonald Mariga and his brother Victor Wanyama.
“Privatised number plates don’t create any security concerns at all. It is a basic issue of personal branding. It is also a vanity trip which life is all about. Personal helicopters by the way have privatised plates,’’ Kipkorir responded to a question by a Twitter user.
