By Andrew Kariuki

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is set to roll out a nationwide mandatory vehicle inspection programme following the adoption of new Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules aimed at strengthening road safety standards.

The move comes after the High Court dismissed a petition seeking to block the implementation of the regulations, paving the way for one of the most significant overhauls of vehicle safety enforcement in recent years.

Under the new framework, private vehicles older than four years will be required to undergo mandatory inspections to confirm roadworthiness and compliance with safety standards.

Public service vehicles, school transport and commercial fleets will face stricter requirements, including annual inspections to ensure continuous compliance and reduce road safety risks.

The regulations also extend inspection requirements to key stages in a vehicle’s lifecycle, including after road accidents, during change of ownership and when re-registering vehicles.

Additionally, the rules introduce stricter controls on salvage vehicles, with only those meeting safety standards allowed back on the road.

Vehicles that pass inspection will be issued with compliance stickers to serve as proof during roadside enforcement.

NTSA is also expected to introduce a public-private partnership model to license private vehicle inspection centres, a move aimed at expanding capacity and reducing delays.

The system will standardise safety and emissions testing, with clear benchmarks set across different categories of vehicles.

The government said the reforms are intended to address growing concerns over unroadworthy vehicles, which have been linked to road accidents and traffic violations.

Motorists who fail to comply with the new inspection requirements risk facing penalties under traffic laws.

NTSA is expected to roll out supporting infrastructure, including additional inspection centres and improved scheduling systems, ahead of full implementation.