New generation number plates /FILEThe Senate has opened an inquiry into alleged delays in the production and issuance of new generation motor vehicle number plates.
The lawmakers are seeking an explanation from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) for a growing backlog that has left thousands of motorists stranded.
Murang'a Senator Joe Nyutu triggered the inquiry when he petitioned the Senate Roads and Transportation Committee to establish the cause for the persistent delays.
"Despite motorists complying with registration requirements and paying the prescribed fees, many continue to face prolonged delays, raising concerns about efficiency, accountability and fairness in service delivery," Nyutu told the House.
The senator said the delays had raised serious concerns over efficiency, accountability and fairness.
He wants the committee to explain the reasons behind the delays and provide the total number of pending number plate applications as of July 1, 2026.
The information, he said, should be broken down by county, vehicle category and the period each application has remained pending.
The committee has also been asked to establish NTSA's current production capacity, plans to expand, modernise or decentralise production and distribution of number plates, and the timelines for implementing the measures.
Nyutu demanded a status report on the procurement of raw materials required to manufacture the number plates and immediate interventions by the Ministry of Roads and NTSA to clear the backlog.
He also wants motorists shielded from penalties or enforcement action arising from delays caused by government institutions.
The issue attracted concern from several senators, who argued that the delays had exposed wider governance and operational challenges within NTSA.
Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo accused the authority of implementing regulations that had not undergone parliamentary scrutiny.
"I am aware that there have been quite a number of controversial issues relating to NTSA," Maanzo said.
The Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation had already recommended the annulment of three NTSA regulations. Maanzo accused the authority of attempting to allow the rules to take effect during Parliament's recess.
"Kenyans must know that this House has pronounced itself on those regulations," he said.
Maanzo claimed that regulations relating to number plates had never been tabled before either House of Parliament as required, despite already being implemented.
"They have never been presented in either of the Houses. Unfortunately, they never did, yet they are already being implemented," he said.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka said the matter extended beyond delayed number plates and pointed to broader concerns over the management of NTSA and its finances.
"The issue of NTSA raised by Senator Nyutu is a matter that affects county governments," Onyonka said.
He called on the committee to investigate who manages the authority and account for revenues collected through NTSA, including funds linked to speed governors.
"I believe that with the coming of this question, there is a likelihood that at the committee level we will be able to interrogate and come up with solutions to the problems bedevilling NTSA," he said.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang said the delays were disrupting vehicle imports, with many units remaining at the Port of Mombasa because they could not be released without registration plates.
"There are many people importing vehicles from Japan, Dubai, Thailand and South Africa. Sometimes vehicles lie in the Mombasa Inland Container Depot and Container Freight Stations for a long time because the number plates have not been released," Kisang said.
He urged the Ministry of Roads and Transport to ensure vehicles are registered promptly upon arrival to avoid unnecessary storage costs and inconvenience to importers.
"So, the NTSA needs to improve its act and ensure that when vehicles arrive, they are registered on time and number plates are issued. Without number plates, vehicles cannot be released or legally driven on the road," he said.
The committee is now expected to investigate the matter and table a report outlining the causes of the delays, the size of the backlog and measures to restore timely issuance of number plates.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The Senate's inquiry piles pressure on NTSA to explain persistent delays that have disrupted motorists, vehicle dealers and importers despite full payment of registration fees. Beyond the backlog, senators have questioned the authority's governance, regulatory compliance and operational capacity. The probe could expose weaknesses in procurement, production and accountability while forcing reforms to improve service delivery. Its findings may also influence future oversight of NTSA and shape policies on vehicle registration, decentralised production and protection of motorists from institutional failures.
