Car dealers in Mombasa staged demonstrations on Monday over changes to the National Transport and Safety Authority system and enforcement of rules on dealer registration number plates.
The protests took place in Mombasa on June 15 as dealers called for the government to restore the previous system. Association chairman Mathew Katili said the measures have disrupted operations and hurt businesses.
“The system says the import entry is for an importer. When you have brought your car and have been allocated a number, you can’t use the KD plate for transportation to Nairobi or anywhere because you don’t have a dealer’s licence,” Katili said.
In April the authority began enforcing Section 24 of the Traffic Act, which governs use of a dealer’s general licence. NTSA said the action was not a ban but an effort to ensure plates are used only by licensed dealers for authorised purposes.
The Independent Car Dealers Association is seeking a consultative meeting with NTSA. Katili also raised concerns about the impact on the government’s projected revenue in the Ksh 4.82 trillion 2026/2027 budget.