NTSA gets nod to proceed with car inspection plans
The new law, based on a 2022 amendment, empowers the NTSA to set the frequency of inspections and outsource services to private firms.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has scored a legal win after the High Court declined to halt its proposed car inspection rules.
The draft regulations, aimed at vehicles older than four years, had faced a legal challenge from the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) over potential costs to motorists and concerns over limited public engagement.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi declined to annul the regulations, noting they had not yet been implemented.
"These draft regulations are matters in progress. It has not crystallised into an actionable controversy that would warrant the intervention of this court. I find that the petition is barred by the doctrine of ripeness," he said.
Under the current inspection process, private car owners pay between Sh2,000 and Sh3,500 depending on the vehicle’s engine capacity.
The new law, based on a 2022 amendment, empowers the NTSA to set the frequency of inspections and outsource services to private firms.
According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission, delegating the inspection process could result in the unfair issuance or denial of certificates.
The group had urged the court to stop the rules before they were enacted.
However, the ruling allows the NTSA to continue refining the draft rules, which are intended to ensure all cars on the road meet safety standards and reduce accidents.