Rules and regulations for import of vehicles to Kenya
Vehicle Age- Age of vehicle should not exceed eight years i.e. from year of first Registration in Japan e.g. in year 2020, you can only import vehicles registered from year 2013 upwards.
-The difference between the date of manufacture and the date of first registration should be not more than one year.
Right Hand Drive Vehicles - Vehicle imported for use in Kenya should be right hand drive (RHD) because drivers should always drive on the left side of the road in Kenya.
- Left hand drive vehicles can only be imported for special purposes e.g. ambulances, fire Tenders and large construction vehicles imported for projects and to be eventually donated to the Kenyan Government.
Vehicle Roadworthiness Inspection - All pre-export vehicles destined for use in Kenya must undergo Roadworthiness Inspection (RWI). The inspection is conducted by JEVIC (Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre) as per mandate from the Kenya Bureau of Standards. Other companies mandated to carry out this inspection are Auto Terminal Japan Ltd (ATJ) and Quality Inspection Services Inc Japan (QISJ).
- The inspection checks to ensure that the vehicles are not more than 8 years old, are right hand drive, have genuine mileage and that the vehicles pass a safety &mechanical inspection similar to the Japanese periodic inspection.
- The inspection checks Radioactive contamination. To safeguard consumer safety it is imperative that all used vehicles imported from Japan and Dubai undergo an inspection to detect any radioactive contamination. Only vehicles whose level of contamination is within acceptable limits will be issued with a certificate of conformity.