High Court Rules On NTSA’s Annual Private Vehicle Inspection
The Kiambu High Court has suspended the National Transport and Safety Authority’s (NTSA) mandated annual inspection of privately owned, non-commercial automobiles.
Justice Francis Nyungu Kyambia issued the conservatory orders on Tuesday, July 1, following a petition filed against the transport authority.
“THAT a conservatory order be and is hereby issued suspending the operation and enforcement of Rules 3(1), Rule 12(2), Rule 16(4), Rule 30(1)(d) and the First Schedule of the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 13 of 2026) in so far and to the extent that it applies to private non-commercial vehicles,” stated the order.
The NTSA said on Tuesday that the roadworthiness rules would be fully implemented by June 2027.
The High Court at Kiambu has suspended the enforcement of the @ntsa_kenya Notice that sought to introduce mandatory annual inspections for all private non-commercial motor vehicles more than 4years old.
The Notice, issued in June 2026, required affected vehicle owners to… pic.twitter.com/6mb02FMfB1— Caroline Oduor (@OduorACaroline) July 1, 2026
This allows the Authority to build 70 inspection facilities in collaboration with the private sector. At the time, the NTSA owns and operates 17 inspection centers.
Additionally, the court froze several rules under the Traffic Motor Vehicle Inspection Rules, 2026, specifically targeting their impact on private car owners.
Among the suspended provisions are key inspection requirements: Rule 3(1) mandated annual tests for public service, commercial, driving school, and government vehicles, while Rule 12(2) set procedures and timelines for vehicles that fail, including defect re-inspection processes.
Rule 16(4) outlined penalties and impoundment for vehicles lacking valid certificates, Rule 30(1)(d) covered mandatory telematic system fitment, and the First Schedule detailed NTSA’s tiered inspection fees across different vehicle classes, which are equally suspended.
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Justice Kyambia also suspended NTSA’s public notice issued on June 26, which had called for annual inspections of private vehicles.
She made it clear that the freeze applies strictly to private, non-commercial cars, leaving room for other categories to still comply.
The petitioner has now been given seven days from the date of the ruling to formally serve the Petition, the Notice of Motion, and the court order on all respondents.
NTSA and the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, Davis Chirchir, have been given 14 days from the date of service to file their responses and submissions to the petition.
The case is scheduled to be heard inter partes on July 22, 2026, giving both sides a chance to fully argue their positions.
High Court Rules On NTSA’s Annual Private Vehicle Inspection
