“We would like to inform all importers of used / used motor vehicles, including returning residents, diplomatic personnel and the general public.
In compliance with the 8-year limit, only right-hand drive vehicles (RHD) with a year of first registration from the 1st.
Kenya imports an average of 12,000 units per month mainly from Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Great Britain, Singapore and South Africa.
Japan dominates the Kenyan used car market with a share of over 80 percent. The data shows that monthly average imports of used vehicles to Kenya rose to over 10,000 units from September onwards.
KEBS has test centers in Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Great Britain, Thailand and South Africa.
“Vehicles from countries in which KEBS has an inspection body must have a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR) from Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan (QISJ), an inspection company commissioned by KEBS,” stated the authority.
The month of November is expected to see up to 13,000 units or more. The normal average monthly import is 9,000 units.
The transit times between Japan and Mombasa are between 26 and 30 days, depending on the port of departure and destination, as most ships call at a number of other ports on their way to Kenya.
The last time the eight-year rule caught up with importers was in 2014, when more than 2,000 used cars registered in 2006 were banned from the country, resulting in losses of millions of schillings at dealerships and individual importers.
The government has urged lowering the age limit for used cars to five years as it pushes for local assembly.
