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Crisis as number plates shortage crosses 70,000 units
The new digital number plates with a QR code, hologram, NTSA serial number (front different from back plate) and Kenyan flag. PHOTO | MARY WAMBUI | NMG
The government has fallen behind in producing more than 70,000 number plates for motor vehicles, three-wheelers (tuk-tuks) and motorcycles, hitting dealers and consumers who in some cases have resorted to printing the plates on papers.
Without number plates, dealers are not able to sell vehicles since motorists need them to operate on the road.
Financiers led by banks also insist on properly registered vehicles before they fund their purchases in a market where most buyers rely on credit for such high-value transactions.
The biggest shortage is for motorcycles where the accumulated number plates deficit has hit 51,000, according to assemblers of the two-wheelers.
Newly imported second-hand cars lie at a yard in Mombasa as shortage of number plates continues to bite importers.
Photo credit: File I Nation Media Group
The shortage for new motor vehicles is running at 7,000 according to the Kenya Motor Industry Association (KMI).
Used car dealers have also been hit by the lack of production of number plates.
Assemblers of tuk-tuks meanwhile place their deficit at 750 units, underlining the widespread crisis that has disrupted personal transport to business operations.
Players in the industry place the blame on the government, noting that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is grappling with inadequate funding.
“Payment for number plates is through eCitizen [the government’s online services platform] but the National Treasury then delays in funding NTSA which is late to pay suppliers,” a dealer told Business Daily.
A number plate for a motor vehicle costs Sh3,050 while that for a motorcycle costs Sh1,550.
NTSA has routinely refused to comment on the matter but stakeholders say insiders at the agency have disclosed that the crisis is primarily due to default on suppliers.
The shortage of number plates has been a recurring problem, hitting sales and cash flows of dealers while disrupting businesses spanning public transport and delivery.
For motorcycles, the number plates production stopped at the KMGV/C series, according to assemblers of the two-wheelers.
Printed paper
The crisis has forced dealers to deepen reliance on Kenya Dealers (KD) number plates as a stop-gap measure to mainly move them from the port of Mombasa or showrooms for test-drives by clients.
These number plates are for motor vehicles without insurance or those whose physical number plates are not yet out. These plates can only be used between 6:00am and 6:00pm.
The frustration has seen some motorcycle riders display their number plate details on printed papers against the law.
The law prohibits the use of motorcycles, tuk-tuks or vehicles on the road without a properly fixed number plate issued by the government.
“A person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or both,” reads part of the Traffic Act on the penalties for failure to affix number plates.
