Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Monday, April 17, revealed plans to make changes to the eight-year limit on imported vehicles in a move aimed at streamlining the transport sector.
Speaking during the Climate Change and E-mobility conference in Nairobi, the CS indicated that reducing the limit from eight years to zero would ensure that the country avoids the dumping of second-hand vehicles.
Through the changes, he noted that importers would only import brand-new vehicles.
Murkomen asserted that other countries like South Africa had adopted the policy hence strengthening its manufacturing and assembling industries.
While he did not disclose when changes would take effect, the CS explained that the age limit would be reviewed by the e-mobility task force that is yet to be constituted.
Nonetheless, he stated that the government would have policies in place to cushion motorists and other sector players in the move.
"To deal with dumping, slowly as we move forward, from the 8 years we can move to zero so that only new diesel and electric vehicles are imported into the country.
"Progressively as you deal with the dumping issues, you deal with the years of imported vehicles. As you do so, you must also have incentives for assembling plants for your own country," he stated.
Currently, all vehicles imported to the country are required to have been eight years and below since the date of their first registration. Other requirements checked are roadworthiness and whether they are of the right-hand drive.
On the other hand, he acknowledged that people were adopting the use of electric vehicles even as the conversation of fuel-powered cars was among the options on the table for motorists.
Murkomen divulged that some investors had shown interest in setting conversation plants in the country.
"We have millions of vehicles and people are moving to EVs. There are certain investors who are looking into the opportunity to come and set up a plant in the country for bringing battering and converting the buses from the current to EV.
"The task force will come up with fiscal incentives, charging points and infrastructure," he stated.
