Kenyans have 18 months to replace the existing number plates with new digital ones.

The government yesterday unveiled new generation number plates with security features meant to prevent vehicle theft among other safety measures.

Motorists will part with Sh3,000 to acquire digitised number plates. 

The new digital number plates come with features identifiable by law enforcement agencies and meet international standards that the country is expected to adhere to.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i yesterday said the previous number plates did not comply to international standards.

“New number plates have several inbuilt security features, some of which may not be readily seen with naked eyes. They comply with the Traffic Act, which was amended in 2016 to improve the number plates,” Matiang’i said.

He was speaking while launching the new plates at the General Service Unit Recce unit headquarters in Ruiru where the plates are being produced.

Exercise ropes in National Traffic and Safety Authority, National Intelligence Service and Kenya Revenue Authority.

“Criminals have been driving cars around town with number plates that were issued, for example, to tractors earlier. We have now today stepped into the new level,” the CS added.

 New plates help synchronise data to set accurate identity of cars and information on background, origins and ownership of the cars. 

 “With this I am confident that if fully implemented and followed, we will deal with tax evasion at the point of entry during importation and bring an end to selling of motor vehicles stolen from other jurisdictions, thereby addressing both a transcontinental problem in the movement of cars and also a transnational problem,” the CS noted.

He went on: “We will not end up with vehicles that were destined for neighbouring countries because the chain of registration and synchronisation of the data set is going to require that we build data on all vehicles we register at the point of entry. It will be easy to trace ownership and origins.”

Terming it as “a very good way to complete your assignment,” the CS noted that after the Dusit D2 attack, the government embarked on security sector reforms including review of firearm licencing regime.

Firearm holders

 “We now have a digital database of firearm holders and in cases where we have taken people for psychiatrist test and recommended that some should not be given firearms.” 

He regretted that courts have at some point forced State agencies to surrender confiscated firearms to individuals, adding: “Some of them have killed people.”

The CS also highlighted reforms in the Immigration Department, which have introduced a digital data base at the Registrar of Persons and the issuance of passports.

“It is now much easier and simpler than it used to be. We have reduced the gaps and loopholes that people would use to acquire citizenship,” he stated.