1. Vehicle Age Limits

The 8-Year Rule

The age of the vehicle must not exceed eight (8) years from the year of first registration in Japan.

Example: In the year 2025, you can only import vehicles registered from year 2018 onwards.

  • The difference between the Date of Manufacture and the Date of First Registration should not be more than one year.

2. Right Hand Drive (RHD) Requirement

Vehicles imported for use in Kenya must be Right Hand Drive (RHD) because traffic drives on the left side of the road.

Exceptions for Left Hand Drive (LHD):

LHD vehicles can only be imported for special purposes, such as:

  • Ambulances
  • Fire Tenders
  • Large construction vehicles (imported for projects and eventually donated to the Kenyan Government)

3. Roadworthiness Inspection (RWI)

All pre-export vehicles destined for Kenya must undergo a Roadworthiness Inspection (RWI) before shipment. This mandate is enforced by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

Approved Inspection Bodies:

  • QISJ (Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan)
  • JEVIC (Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre)
  • ATJ (Auto Terminal Japan Ltd)

What does the inspection cover?

  • Age Limit: Ensures the vehicle is not more than 8 years old.
  • Drive Side: Confirms the vehicle is Right Hand Drive.
  • Mileage: Verifies that the odometer reading is genuine.
  • Safety & Mechanical: Passes a safety inspection similar to the Japanese periodic inspection.
  • Radioactive Contamination: Checks radiation levels to safeguard consumer safety. Only vehicles within acceptable limits are issued a certificate of conformity.