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May 9, 2025
After months of crippling delays and mounting frustration among vehicle owners across Kenya, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has officially confirmed the arrival of a fresh batch of motor vehicle number plates, signalling an end to the long-standing shortage that had brought vehicle registration to a near standstill.
The development, announced on Thursday, brings welcome relief to thousands of motorists who have been forced to wait endlessly—some for up to six months—without the plates needed to legally operate their vehicles.
“We have successfully cleared a significant portion of the backlog,” said NTSA Board Chairperson Khatib Mwashetani during a press briefing at the Authority’s Nairobi offices. “Our offices are now fully stocked with number plates ready for collection. Clients who received SMS alerts should proceed to their respective registration centers to pick them up immediately.”
Government Pressure Spurs Action
The breakthrough follows intense pressure from the government. Just a month ago, then-Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen—who now heads the Interior docket—issued a stern directive to NTSA, demanding urgent action to clear the backlog not only of number plates but also logbooks and driving licences.
Murkomen’s intervention appears to have jolted the system into motion. Since the directive, NTSA has scaled up production capacity, addressed critical supply chain bottlenecks, and extended office working hours to accommodate the surge in pending cases.
“This is not just a delivery milestone, but a restoration of trust in public service,” Mwashetani added. “We’ve overhauled internal systems and worked round the clock to ensure Kenyans get the service they deserve.”
Extended Working Hours & Enhanced Collection
To fast-track the clearance of uncollected documents, NTSA offices are now operating on extended schedules—from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, and select Saturdays for regions with higher demand.
Kenyans who had applied for plates months ago are being notified via SMS, prompting them to visit the same NTSA centers where they made their applications. Those who have not yet received notifications are encouraged to check the status of their applications online via the NTSA self-service portal at ntsa.go.ke, using their vehicle registration or national ID numbers.
The Authority has also warned against relying on brokers or third parties, reminding the public that all collections must be done in person with proper identification.
The Human Cost of Bureaucratic Delays
The shortage of plates had a domino effect on other aspects of road transport. For months, newly purchased vehicles sat idle in garages. Car dealerships lost revenue. Motorists faced harassment from law enforcement despite having paid all required fees.
“I bought my car in December 2024 and only just got my plate yesterday,” said Martha Wanjiku, a Nairobi-based rideshare driver. “For five months, I couldn’t work because I didn’t have a valid plate. I nearly lost the car to loan defaults.”
Fleet owners, taxi operators, and logistics companies were similarly affected, many reporting revenue losses running into millions.
What’s Next? A Push for Digital Reform
This backlog crisis has reignited calls for NTSA to accelerate its digitization efforts and decentralize key services. Analysts argue that relying on a single point of failure—such as the Kenya Prisons Service, which currently manufactures number plates—is a vulnerability that the country cannot afford.
“Kenya needs a digitized, automated, and decentralized plate production system,” said transport economist Peter Mburu. “If we can print passports and national IDs faster, why not number plates?”
NTSA has responded by promising future-proof reforms, including investments in digital infrastructure and closer coordination with the Interior Ministry to eliminate red tape.
A Final Word to Motorists
As the dust settles, the NTSA is reminding all motorists who’ve received SMS alerts to collect their plates without delay to ease congestion at service centers. Failure to collect plates promptly could result in further delays or enforcement penalties.
This announcement marks a rare moment of progress in Kenya’s often slow-moving public service machinery—one that thousands of motorists will not forget anytime soon.
How to Check Plate Availability:
- Visit ntsa.go.ke
- Log into the TIMS portal
- Enter your ID or registration number
- Follow prompts to check plate status and collection center