The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has issued a strict directive requiring all national and county government entities to replace old-generation number plates with reflective plates by Friday, August 29, 2025. The directive, grounded in Sections 2(1) and 4(2) of the NTSA Act No. 33 of 2012, is aimed at enhancing the visibility, traceability, and regulation of government-owned vehicles across Kenya.
This development follows a previous order from the Head of Public Service, instructing all ministries, departments, agencies, state corporations, public universities, and public learning institutions, including county governments, to install the new reflective plates on their fleets. The directive represents a key step in standardising public sector transportation and advancing road safety initiatives across the country.
To ensure compliance with the directive, NTSA has outlined a clear application process and support framework. All affected institutions are required to submit applications for the new number plates via the NTSA service portal at http://serviceportal.ntsa.go.ke. The process involves logging into institutional e-Citizen accounts, selecting the “plates” option, and proceeding with the application under the “reflective plates” section.
To streamline bulk processing, the authority has also enabled e-agent account creation within the e-Citizen platform. Government institutions are required to submit an official letter to the NTSA Director General requesting agent account creation. This letter must include the name and mobile number of the designated agent, their email address, the institution’s official contact details, KRA PIN, and a coloured passport-size photo. These documents should be sent via email to: numberplates@ntsa.go.ke. Once approved, further instructions regarding bulk payment deposits will be provided to the designated contact email.
To facilitate smooth implementation, NTSA has established help desks at its Nairobi headquarters, regional offices, and Huduma Centres nationwide. Institutions can also direct inquiries to NTSA’s official communication channels to seek assistance during the transition period.
Reflective number plates are designed to offer improved visibility during night-time driving and easier identification of vehicles. They are embedded with security features intended to reduce fraud, enhance enforcement, and improve the management of government fleets.
The NTSA has emphasized the importance of adhering to the deadline, warning that failure to comply may lead to disruptions in service delivery or enforcement actions. The initiative is part of broader efforts to ensure transparency, accountability, and safety on Kenyan roads, particularly in the management of publicly owned vehicles.
