Number plates are the most visible components of a vehicle and it is a requirement in the law for every vehicle to have the plates while being used on the roads.
Most importantly, registration plates are mandatory as they help in the identification of the vehicle and the owner.
Owing to their significant role, the Traffic (Registration Plates) Rules, 2016 spells out the dos and don'ts when it comes to the registration plates.
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Application
Some of the documents required by NTSA during the application include the original and a copy of the vehicle’s logbook.
For individuals, NTSA also requires an ID or passport. Companies and organisations are required to produce a copy of the certificate of incorporation.
Visibility
Number plates are usually reflective for visibility purposes during the night.
Additionally, it is s crime to drive a vehicle whose number plates are not visible. Therefore, should one letter or number be covered with dirt or mud, the police can arrest the motorists.
"A person shall not drive a motor vehicle or trailer which has registration plates that are not clearly visible or legible or contains a letter or number other than the registration marks assigned to the vehicle or trailer," read the rules in part.
Prefix of Number Plates
Different vehicles start with various letters depending on the type of vehicle.
For instance, the number plates of trailers start with the prefix Z while tractors start with KTC. The prefix KTW is used for tuk-tuks while KM is used for motorcycles.
KHM is used for heavy-duty vehicles while GK is used for government vehicles.
“The registration plate of an Embassy representational vehicle and a Consul General vehicle shall bear the registration serial code "000 CMD" and "000 CG 00" respectively,” reads the parts of the rules.
“The registration plate of an international organization's International vehicle shall bear seven optical recognizable characters with the prefix organizations INT.”
In March 2024, the government also announced that it would reserve green number plates for electric vehicles.
"All vehicles that are EVs will be given green number plates. Those that have been having the green one need to apply for another one
"We are doing this to encourage them (owners of EVs). We will also have incentives. We will talk to governors to give priority to parking spaces for Electric vehicles which will be cheaper," former Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen announced.
Fine
The general penalty set out for number plate offences is Ksh20,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months.
One of the offences that can attract such a penalty is modifying the number plates.
