Inside NTSA’s vehicle inspection process as annual checks spark public debate

A decision by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to inspect all motor vehicles and motorcycles using public roads has ignited heated debate over the government's intentions.

While the authority says the move is aimed at improving road safety and saving lives, many Kenyans remain sceptical, arguing it is primarily a revenue-raising measure. Others view vehicle inspections as an avenue for corruption among inspection officers.

But what exactly happens at a motor vehicle inspection centre?

Citizen TV visited the NTSA Motor Vehicle Inspection Headquarters along Likoni Road in Nairobi's Industrial Area to find out.

It is the busiest of the 17 NTSA vehicle inspection centres across the country. Here, commercial and public service vehicles are required to undergo annual roadworthiness inspections.

The process begins with vehicle owners booking an inspection appointment through the eCitizen platform. Once at the inspection centre, NTSA inspectors take over.

"The first procedure begins with a general inspection,” explained Eng. Opere Nyarayo who works at the Motor Vehicle Inspection.

Inspectors then examine the vehicle's chassis, engine, transmission, electrical system, seats and safety belts.

They also inspect the undercarriage for leaks and assess the condition of the engine and gearbox.

The inspection further covers the electrical system, lighting, windscreen, braking system and vehicle emissions.

"The machine instructs the driver when to accelerate, how many times to do so, and ultimately provides a verdict on whether the vehicle has passed or failed. The machines are calibrated,” he said.

For emissions testing, diesel vehicles undergo opacity tests while petrol vehicles are assessed using gas analysers.

"If a diesel vehicle emits heavy smoke, its opacity level is high,” Nyarayo explained.

However, during our visit, some equipment, including the roller brake tester, suspension tester and noise detection system, was not operational. NTSA said the machines were undergoing maintenance.

Inspectors also assess the vehicle body, including its paintwork, before making the final determination.

A vehicle must meet all the required standards to pass the inspection.

"The inspection report will indicate whether the vehicle has passed or failed. If it fails, the report specifies the defects that must be repaired before the vehicle is presented for re-inspection. No additional inspection fee is charged. Inspectors only verify the repaired items,” stated Nyarayo.

Despite the elaborate process, some motorists believe inspections are merely procedural and that bribery determines the final outcome.

Responding to concerns over corruption, Eng. Opere acknowledged the challenge.

"Corruption is a common issue. As long as we are still under the sun, sin still abounds,” he said.

He, however, said technology is helping reduce opportunities for graft.

"We are modernising our inspection centres to minimise interaction between inspectors and vehicle owners. Subjectivity is being eliminated because, for example, when testing the braking system, the machine gives the results. Those outcomes cannot be negotiated,” Nyarayo noted.

Under the proposed regulations, all motor vehicles, including privately owned vehicles, will eventually be required to undergo annual inspections.

However, the mandatory requirement has been postponed for at least one year because the country lacks sufficient inspection capacity.

"The mandatory requirement is what we will postpone until we have enough inspection centres,” said NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa.

NTSA currently has the capacity to inspect about 45,000 vehicles every month, translating to approximately 540,000 vehicles annually—only about 10 per cent of the more than five million vehicles on Kenyan roads.

Eng. Opere said the authority could double that capacity if all facilities were operating optimally.

"On average, we inspect between 42,000 and 45,000 vehicles every month. If we were operating optimally, we would be able to inspect almost twice that number,” stated Nyarayo.

To bridge the capacity gap, NTSA is banking on private investors to establish up to 70 inspection centres across the country by mid-2027, while the authority plans to establish 30 additional centres by December this year.

"To fully equip one inspection lane with side-slip testers, suspension testers, wheel-alignment machines, brake testers, beam testers and noise meters costs between Ksh.30 million and Ksh.35 million,” stated Nyarayo.

NTSA boss Kondiwa said investors seeking licences will need even more capital.

"The minimum requirement will be two inspection lanes, which will cost about Ksh.80 million. The auxiliary equipment will require an additional Ksh.20 million. In total, an investor should be prepared to spend around Ksh.100 million,” Kondiwa stated.

The government argues that private vehicles account for more road fatalities than public service vehicles.

While this may be true in absolute numbers, proportionately, vehicle categories that are already subject to mandatory inspections continue to record higher rates of road crashes and fatalities.

Under the proposed regulations, vehicles that pass inspection will receive a certificate displayed on the windscreen indicating the inspection date, inspection centre and expiry date.