KEBS Notifies Kenyans Intending To Buy Police-Auctioned Vehicles
KEBS indicated that exceptions could be made for police-auctioned vehicles under specific legal conditions.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The government, through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), has revealed measures for the registration of vehicles bought through police auctions.
In a notice dated Tuesday, April 1, KEBS stated that Kenyan laws prohibit the registration or importation of vehicles older than eight years from their initial registration, including those sold through police auctions.
However, KEBS indicated that exceptions could be made for police-auctioned vehicles under specific legal conditions.
The Bureau of Statistics mentioned that it could recommend to Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui to permit the registration of police-auctioned vehicles exceeding the eight-year limit.
KEBS acting Managing Director Esther Ngari speaking during an event on October 14, 2024. /KEBS
"KEBS enforces KS 1515:2000 - Kenya Standard Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles that prohibits importation and registration of motor vehicles that are more than eight (8) years of age from the year of first registration," stated KEBS in part.
"However, KEBS may recommend to the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, to waive the age limit requirement, subject to compliance with the Waiver Evaluation Technical Criteria (WETC) by applicants."
KEBS emphasized that certain conditions must be met before granting a waiver for a police-auctioned vehicle. As stated in the notice, applicants must submit a waiver application letter along with a multi-agency pre-auction report.
Additionally, they must provide a Gazette Notice from the National Police Service listing the vehicle for auction, specifying which units are designated for road use and which are marked for scrapping, in accordance with the multi-agency report.
Other required documents include a court order authorizing the auction, the auctioneer’s license, and a certificate of sale.
Applicants must also provide a tape lift from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and clearance from Interpol.
"The Waiver Evaluation Technical Criteria, is publicly available on www.kebs.org and covers, amongst others, the criteria for evaluating Police-auctioned vehicles for purposes of waiver by the Cabinet Secretary.
"Consequently, we wish to inform the public that KEBS will only consider and recommend to the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, a waiver of the age limit for police-auctioned vehicles that meet the requirements specified above," added KEBS.
Kenyans buying vehicles from police auctions were advised to follow the guidelines outlined in the Kenya Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles to prevent legal issues.
An image of KEBS offices. /KEBS
