By Edna Mwende
New proposed regulations by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have demanded that all motor vehicles must undergo mandatory inspection with charges tripling to Ksh3,500.
According to a news article by the Business Daily, the regulations state that all commercial vehicles, public service vehicles and school buses shall undergo a pre-registration examination and an annual periodic motor vehicle inspection thereafter.
Private vehicles on the other hand will require to go through inspection every two years and commercial vehicles annually.
“All private vehicles which are more than four-years-old from the recorded date of manufacture shall undergo a motor vehicle inspection test after every two years,” the regulations say as quoted by the Business Daily.
Private car owners will according to the news report by Business Daily pay between Ksh2,000 and Ksh3,500 for the checks depending on the vehicle engine capacity, up from Ksh1,000. The ones with an engine capacity of 3000 cubic centimeters (CC) and below will pay Ksh2,000 while the ones with a greater capacity will pay Ksh2,500.
Motorcyclists and three-wheeler operators on the other hand will part with Ksh500 while heavy commercial vehicles above five tonnes will pay Ksh3,500.
The news report by the local daily also states that the move to up car examination charges is expected to improve road safety and ultimately reduce road accidents and deaths on roads by getting rid of un-roadworthy cars.
Cars whose lengths or widths have been modified, those involved in accidents or vehicles salvaged will require fresh inspection.
Inspection will be outsourced to private centres registered with NTSA which will pay Ksh500,000 for a three-year license which could provide a lucrative business for them given the number of vehicles in the country.
Garage owners will however not be allowed to operate as inspection centers with Business Daily reporting that inspectors will also be restricted from operating more than one center.
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