The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) assigns the KTW prefix to tuk-tuk number plates to distinguish them from other vehicles and curb theft. Tuk-tuks are classified under the three-wheeler motorcycle category, with K standing for Kenya, T for Three, and W for Wheels.
Tuk-tuks, popular in cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu, feature registration plates starting with KTW, unlike private cars with prefixes such as KAA or KCA, or motorcycles beginning with KM. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) introduced the four-letter sequences like KTWA or KTWB to preserve plate integrity and address theft cases where plates were swapped between tuk-tuks, motorcycles, or cars. This approach also extends the lifespan of Kenya's standard vehicle registration series. Plate colors carry specific meanings: yellow rear and white front with black letters mark standard commercial tuk-tuks for public transport. Green plates, often prefixed KD, serve garage purposes such as transporting new tuk-tuks from showrooms to customers or for test drives. Under a 2026 policy, these green plates also identify electric tuk-tuks for zero-emission status. NTSA uses these designations to ensure easy identification among millions of vehicles on Kenyan roads daily.