In 2022, the Kenyan Interior CS Fred Matiang’i introduced new digital number plates for the country’s drivers.
The issuance exercise started in October 2022 and drivers were told they had up to 18 months to replace their old plates.
The application process is done through the NTSA portal and costs KES 3050.
The new plates have a microprocessor for tracking by state or security agencies and an NTSA serial number linked to the vehicle’s chassis number.
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The front and back plates are not identical but are linked, and feature a Kenyan flag, a KENYA mark, and a hologram of the Big Five animals. The back of the plate also includes the date of manufacture, batch number, and production machine number.
The application process
Now, many motorists have been having issues during the application process.
Some had reported that they could not be able to upload their logbooks, which is one of the requirements when applying for the digital plates.
Groups that have been successful have however complained that the plates take a very long time to arrive, even up to two months.
Nonetheless, over the last few weeks, the NTSA has been sensitizing the public to apply for them, adding that applicants will be able to pick them up in seven days.
The process is quite straightforward:
- Visit www.ntsa.go.ke, and log into your account
- Select vehicle registration, and apply for reflective plates
- Then select vehicle and click NEXT
- Select the reason for the application, that is, you need the new generation plates
- Choose the notification method such as SMS
- Choose number plate and format, be it oblong or square
- Upload in pdf your original logbook and plates (rear and front)
- Select your collection centre, and enter the ID number of the person who will collect it
- Make a payment of KES 3050
- Wait for the collection notification, which you will receive when the plates are ready via SMS.
