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Used vehicle imports waiver attracts few takers

njiraini

Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) Managing Director Bernard Njiraini. PHOTO | LUCY WANJIRU | NMG

Second-hand car importers have applied for import deadline waivers from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) on only 132 units manufactured in 2013, defying expectations that many more would seek to bring in the older units due to Covid related shipment disruptions.

Last month, Kebs said it would be willing to consider on a case by case basis applications to allow 2013 used vehicles bought before December 1 to be shipped into the country, provided the importers can prove that Covid-19 delayed processing of documents for shipping of their units.

Kebs managing director Bernard Njiraini said the applications received by last Friday will be individually processed on their own merit adding that there will be no blanket waiver.

Importers ship in more than 130,000 second hand vehicles every year.

“No waiver has been granted to date and Kebs will treat each waiver application on its own merit and a decision made to or deny the waiver. Approvals are not based on the number of applications,” he said.

In a public notice, Mr Njiraini said this only applies to vehicles bought, inspected and issued with a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR) on or before December 1, 2020 that are likely to arrive into the country after the cut-off date of December 31, 2020.

“Kebs has received petitions that Covid-19 pandemic might have affected some importers due to disruption of shipping schedules. Such importers should lodge documents that support their claim for consideration of a waiver," he said.

According to Kenya’s used vehicle regulations, only vehicles aged eight years and below are allowed into Kenya, meaning that only vehicles whose first registration was in is 2014 can be shipped in.