Bikes boom drives spike in vehicle registrations

New motor vehicle and motorcycle registrations surged sharply last year, a survey shows.

The number rose from 267,193 units in 2024 to 395,235, driven largely by a near doubling in the number of motorcycles, auto-cycles and three-wheelers, according to the Economic Survey 2026. 

The survey, which was released on Wednesday,  shows there were 142,994 newly registered vehicles in 2025, compared to 140,703 in 2024.

In 2023, there were 119,205 registered vehicles, compared to 99,365 in 2022 and 107,499 in 2021.

The survey shows 241,763 motorcycles and auto-cycles were registered in 2025, compared to 118,308 in 2024.

It indicates 10,478 three-wheelers were registered last year.

The survey also shows there were 5,009 fatalities reported on Kenyan roads in 2025.

It shows 19,896 persons were injured on the roads.The survey further shows there were 11,638 reported road traffic accidents on Kenyan roads, an increase from 11,165 in 2024.

It shows the total paved roads as of June 2025 stood at 25,412 kilometres.

This comprises super highways, classified as ‘Class S’, at 365 kilometres; international trunk roads, classified as ‘A’, at 5,844 kilometres; and national trunk roads, classified as ‘B’, at 6,880 kilometres. The survey shows primary roads, classified as ‘C’, stood at 6,994 kilometres, while secondary roads, classified as ‘D’, stood at 751 kilometres.

Minor roads, classified as ‘E’, stood at 833 kilometres; special purpose roads, classified as ‘F’, stood at 778 kilometres; while unclassified roads, ‘G’, stood at 2,965 kilometres, bringing the total to 25,412 kilometres.

The survey shows government expenditure on roads in 2025-26 stood at Sh168.7 billion.

The survey shows Sh21.4 billion was generated from passenger and freight services, while revenue from metre gauge dipped to Sh2 billion.

Cargo throughput at the Port of Mombasa grew by 11.2 per cent to 45.6 million tonnes in 2025, with imports at 36 million tonnes.

Passenger traffic fell to 12.7 million in 2025, while cargo rose by 12.5 per cent to 419,751.6 tonnes, with JKIA handling 97.3 per cent.

According to the survey, the construction sector remained a key driver of economic growth and development in 2025, contributing to investment, employment creation, and the expansion of infrastructure and housing.

“Government initiatives, particularly under the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP), continued to support the sector and expand the supply of housing units across the country,” part of the survey said.

The survey shows there were 238,300 jobs in the construction sector. It also shows that cement consumption has increased.

The survey shows cement consumption was 9,098 tonnes in 2021, 9,494 tonnes in 2022, 9,196 tonnes in 2023, 8,543 tonnes in 2024, and 10,280 tonnes in 2025.

The survey shows loans and advances from commercial banks stood at Sh646.5 billion.

It shows that government expenditure on housing has increased.

In the financial year 2021-22, some Sh14.1 billion was spent on housing, declining to Sh10.5 billion in the financial year 2022-23.

In the financial year 2023-24, spending on housing rose to Sh78.2 billion and Sh79 billion in the financial year 2024-25.

In the financial year 2025-26, spending on housing stood at Sh116.7 billion.