The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has issued a fresh directive to second-hand electric car importers.
In a notice issued on February 19, 2024, the authority directed this category of importers to ensure that the vehicles they bring into the country have a battery life of not less than 80% for them to be allowed into the country.
KEBS further informed the importers that second hand electric cars from 6 countries will be subjected to mandatory inspection.
"Used electric motor vehicles imported from Japan, UAE, Thailand, Singapore, South Africa and the UK are subject to mandatory Pre-Inspection by Quality Inspection Services, Inc (QISJ)" KEBS observed in its statement.
QISJ is a KEBS-appointed inspection agent for motor vehicles in the country.
The directive comes just two months after KEBS issued new guidelines for the importation of used or second-hand vehicles into the country.
In a notice dated December 4, 2023, KEBS indicated that effective January 1 2024, only second-hand electric vehicles which were registered from January 1, 2017, would be allowed into the country.
At the time, Kenyans who had planned to import vehicles that were registered before 2017 were advised to ensure that the cars dock at the country's points of entry by December 31, 2023.
KEBS further outlined that supporting documents of vehicles released in 2016 going backwards were also required to arrive in the country before the end of 2023.
The regulator communicated that the policy was in line with the eight-year age limit the government had imposed on the importation of all used vehicles.
KEBS however, clarified that the directive applied to right-hand drive vehicles being imported into the country.
The eight-year age limit was introduced to prevent the dumping of below-peak condition vehicles into the country.
