You’ll need Ksh.3K for the new-look digital number plates

Motorists will pay Ksh.3,000 to get the new generation number plates which have been introduced by the Government of Kenya.

The new-look digital plates were launched by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi on Tuesday as part of measures to fight against forgery, swapping and duplication.

According to the CS, each plate will have a unique identification which will be tied to the chassis number of its vehicle to boost transparency in the registration of vehicles across the country.

“Each one of the number plates is going to have a serial number. There will be correspondence between the serial number and the chassis number, so if the police arrest someone driving a Range Rover and the number plate is registered under a tractor, all that is what we will address with these plates,” said Matiang’i.

He further noted that the Government hopes to have phased out existing plates within 18 months and Kenyans can begin acquiring the new ones through the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

Matiang'i said the plates will be fixed to vehicles imported to the country at the point of entry and will be synchronised with KRA systems to curb tax evasion in the car import business.

“We want to address the security of our country, we want to help other agencies such as the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) function properly. We are also helping the financial sector and improving transparency,” he said.

The new-look registration plates feature a smaller font, similar to the one currently used in county government vehicle plates.  They are equipped with additional security features for easy tracing by law enforcement agencies.

“The work is being done by a multi agency unit of the security sector and is part of the reforms initiated by President Uhuru Kenyatta after the 2019 Dusit attack,” Matiang’i said.

Besides the unique template, they’ll feature a specially-imprinted national flag, hologram, watermark, unique and different serial numbers for rear and front plates that are linked to the vehicle’s chassis number and a customised font.

The smart plates will also store information such as year of manufacturer, type and colour of vehicle, engine number, transmission type, date and place of manufacture, and insurance details.

CS Matiang’i was accompanied by his counterparts James Macharia (Transport) and Joe Mucheru (ICT). They were at the GSU Recce unit Headquarters in Ruiru, Nairobi where the plates are being produced.

All motor vehicles, from motorcycles to heavy trailers, will be required to adopt the new plates. The plates will also put Kenya in the list of countries that are compliant with the Vienna Traffic Conventions on global standards for number plates, including look-and-feel features.