Interior Cabinet Secretary  Fred Matiang’i has today revealed new digital number plates.

The National Transport and Safety Authority had earlier on announced that it would launch these digital number plates to curb crime and fraud with the number of automobiles in Kenya reaching up to 4.8 million.

Speaking at the Government-owned facility, GSU Reece Headquarters in Ruiru, Matiang’i stated that the enhanced digital number plates would implicate the process of faking number plates.

The number plates have new features which is a microchip that is used to track vehicles and their ownership by the regulatory authorities. The digital number plates can be tracked by security agencies remotely in case a vehicle is suspected to be involved in illegal activity.

Fred Matiang’i also noted that each vehicle will have a unique identifier tied to its chassis number to make the registration process of vehicles more credible and verifiable.

The new plates will be launched with the KDK series of newly registered vehicles. The new number plates shall have physical features such as the Kenyan flag hologram, watermark, a QR code, and the NTSA serial number.

CS Matiang’i also pointed a finger at bankers who dishonestly use logbooks after failing to lay hold of vehicles used as collateral.

Matiang’i described this initiative as a masterstroke that will seal many loopholes.

He noted that the smart number plates will help contain crime and terrorism activities.

“When we were hit during Dusit 2, it was because terrorists gained vehicles and

fraudulently acquired number plates, and it was very difficult to trace

within the time they were around..”

Imported vehicles will also be required to register at the point of entry and the information linked with the NTSA database and National Police Service.

Kenya will be one of the few countries that are complaisant with the Vienna Traffic Conventions on best standards for number plates. The new move is in line with the legal requirements of the Traffic Act 2016.

Information that will be identifiable through the smart number plates includes; the year of manufacturer, type and color of vehicle, engine number, transmission type, date and place of manufacture, and insurance details.

Vehicle owners in Kenya have 18 months to have switched to digital number plates. Each number plate has been capped at 3000 shillings.

He stated that the plates will be solely produced by the government to lock out cartels and control quality.

The sale of registration rules or third registration plates licenses without authoritative consent is strictly prohibited.

CS Fred Matiang’i was in the company  of ICT CS Joe Mucheru and Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, Safina

Kwekwe, Joseph Njoroge and Commissioner General of Prisons Brigadier (Rtd) John Warioba.