Motorists across Kenya can now breathe a sigh of relief after the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) confirmed the arrival of a new consignment of motor vehicle number plates. This marks the end of a months-long shortage that had caused significant delays in vehicle registration and licensing processes.
During a visit to the Authority’s premises, NTSA Board Chair Khatib Mwashetani announced the successful delivery of the plates, attributing the improvement to concerted efforts by the government to streamline service delivery and resolve supply chain disruptions. The shortage, which had affected thousands of vehicle owners and motor dealers, was primarily caused by a lack of raw materials used in the production of the plates.
“The arrival of this batch is a clear sign of our commitment to addressing operational challenges and improving efficiency,” said Mwashetani.
Motorists who had applied for number plates and have received SMS notifications from NTSA are advised to collect their plates from the respective offices where they submitted their applications. The Authority has urged clients to bring the necessary identification and application documents when picking up their plates to facilitate a smooth process.
NTSA Director General George Njao reassured the public that the situation is now under control. “The concerns from the public and stakeholders were valid, and we appreciate their patience. We are now back on track, and clients can expect timely service,” he stated.
Mr. Njao also emphasized that production has stabilized and the Authority is implementing measures to ensure consistent availability of number plates in the future. This includes strengthening supply chains and increasing production capacity to prevent similar shortages from recurring.
The resolution of this issue comes as a welcome development for vehicle owners, dealers, and logistics companies who had experienced delays in registration and delivery of vehicles due to the backlog. With production back on schedule, the NTSA expects to clear the pending cases swiftly and restore normalcy in service delivery.
Motorists are encouraged to stay updated through official NTSA communication channels and avoid intermediaries to prevent falling victim to fraud.
