Africa-Press – Kenya. The national government is now saying it is confronting a number of challenges that are hampering the rollout of the new smart number plates for motorists in the country.
The details of the hitches were disclosed by Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho who noted that the licensing body has a budget shortfall.
Kibicho stated that National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) at the moment has a funding deficit of close to Ksh604 million which has hindered the much-anticipated introduction of the new number plates.
The funding gap has affected the procurement process which was supposed to be done in the financial year starting July 1, 2022.
The said money according to the PS was meant to purchase the vehicle’s logbooks.
“NTSA is attempting to move to smart number plates. They also need to purchase logbooks and if we don’t facilitate them, they have a deficit of Sh604 million,” Kibicho stated while appearing in the National Assembly for the review of the 2022/2023 supplementary budget.
He however did not disclose the number of number plates and logbooks that would be purchased by the said money.
The new computerised number plates have been hailed as a game changer for their unique features including holograms, watermarks, and laser markers among others.
They were expected to make it easier for police to trace information on particular vehicles and even their owners.
The national government had also hinted at establishing a local production facility for motor vehicle digital registration number plates.
For motorists to acquire the smart number plates, they were expected to pay Ksh3,000 for each.
But plans for the rollout were temporarily stopped in September 2020 by the High Court. Justice James Makau suspended tendering for the plant pending hearing and determination of an application filed by activist Okiya Omtatah challenging the procurement process and justification for building one.
In January 28, NTSA rolled out new-look number plates for container freight stations, garages, and towing companies.
After the launch, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i announced that all motor vehicle and motorcycle dealers operating in Kenya must undergo fresh licensing by NTSA by April 1, 2022.
Further, the Interior CS stated that existing licenses will be revoked at the expiry of the period that the government has announced.
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