Kenya has recorded a sharp decline in the number of newly registered vehicles in the last 12 months.

According to the 2025 Economic Survey report released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the total number of newly registered vehicles and motorcycles declined from 195,656 in 2023 to 166,514 in 2024.

With vehicles remaining among the most commonly used modes of transportation in the country, the economic survey established that the drop was equivalent to 14.9 per cent, affecting the entire sector in the country, which not only offers employment opportunities but also contributes to Kenya’s economic development.

Vehicles registered

The KNBS survey disclosed that the number of newly registered road motor vehicles declined by 21.4 per cent from 119,205 in 2023 to 93,646 in 2024.

In terms of vehicle type, the number of lorries registered in that similar period dropped from 13,635 in 2023 to 5,456 in 2024, which was equivalent to 60 per cent decline.

Trailers followed a similar trend, declining by 66.7 per cent to 2,123 in 2024, whereas newly registered panel vans and pick-ups dropped by 54.6 per cent to 5,879 in 2024.

Tractors, buses and coaches, saloon cars, and minibuses were not spared as they posted a decline of 67.5, 53.5, 15.9, and 8.7 per cent, respectively.

“There was, however, a 4.0 per cent increase in the number of newly registered station wagons from 61,711 in 2023
to 64,204 in 2024,” the report read in part.

Motorcycles and tuktuk

The total number of newly registered motorcycles, autocycles, and three-wheelers declined by 4.7 per cent from 76,451 in 2023 to 72,868 in 2024.

The KNBS survey further established that the number of newly registered three-wheelers dropped by 29.4 per cent from 5,760 in 2023 to 4,064 in 2024.

According to KNBS, the same trend was witnessed in the issuance of driving licenses, where the total PSV licenses
issued declined by 14.7 per cent from 71,980 in 2023 to 61,429 in 2024.

The decline could be attributed to the economic slowdown in the country, coupled with new taxation policies introduced by the government of the day.