Govt Issues Directive to Motorists Over Imported Cars Flooding Kenya

by Maureen Njeri on Tuesday, 4 July 2023 – 9:58 am

Photo of Vehicles loaded on a car haulier captured on September 2019.

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) on Tuesday, July 4, cautioned motorists against the alarming influx of unauthorized vehicles imported into the country.

In a statement, the statutory body revealed that some vehicles were stolen abroad while some lacked log books.

Other vehicles were more than eight years old, contrary to requirements of the Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles.

To deal with the illegal imports, KEBS demanded that all used cars without Certificates of Roadworthiness (CoRs) issued by Quality Inspection Services Inc Japan (QISJ) must acquire relevant documents to be eligible for destination inspection.

Motor vehicles at the Conventional cargo yard at the Port of Mombasa on February 28, 2017.

"We have noted with concern the increasing number of vehicles from these six (6) countries being imported into the country for destination inspection, having not gone through pre-inspection by QISJ and without genuine logbooks from the last country of registration," read part of the notice.

Among the documents required were an Interpol clearance, logbook, and/or the certificate of deregistration from the last country of registration and export documents from the country of origin.

According to KEBS, Kenyans can legally import vehicles from Japan, the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Thailand, and South Africa.

Japan's Quality Inspection Services Inc Japan (QISJ) was contracted in August 2022 to offer PVoC services for used motor vehicles, mobile equipment, and spare parts in six countries.

Notably, QISJ undertakes verification of the year of first registration and confirmation of vehicle ownership, among other duties.

Additionally, KEBS urged motorists to visit kebs.org for more details on vehicle inspection, including the fees.

On Friday, June 30, a Gazette notice from the East African Community (EAC) announced the increase of vehicle importation duty from 25 to 35 per cent.

“Kenya is to stay of application of the East African Community Common External Tariff (CET) rate of 25 per cent and apply the duty rate of 35 per cent,” read part of the gazette.

Imported cars being unloaded from a ship that docked at a port of entry.