Importing a vehicle into Kenya remains one of the most popular ways for individuals, businesses, ride-share operators, and fleet managers to acquire reliable, cost-effective cars—especially in a market where new-vehicle prices often exceed KSh 5–10 million for popular SUVs and saloons. In 2026, the process is tightly regulated by three core authorities: the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for customs valuation and taxation, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) for pre-shipment conformity and age/roadworthiness compliance, and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) for final registration and road-use approval. The landscape shifted significantly at the start of 2026. Effective January 1, 2026, KEBS enforced a stricter interpretation of the long-standing eight-year age limit under KS 1515:2000 (Code of Practice for Inspection of Road Vehicles) and Legal Notice No. 78 of 2020. Only Right-Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles whose year of first registration is January 1, 2019, or late...
The modern car is a sophisticated digital ecosystem, operating on up to 100 million lines of code and relying on multiple wireless connections. As vehicles evolve into Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) , they have become irresistibly lucrative targets for cybercriminals. The risk is no longer theoretical. Reports indicate that the automotive industry faces hundreds of attacks annually, causing billions of dollars in damages, primarily through ransomware and data leaks. This isn't just about stolen music playlists; it’s about compromising physical safety and exploiting a goldmine of data. Here is a breakdown of why your car is the next target for hackers, and how the automotive industry is fighting back. I. The Goldmine: Why Hackers Target Cars Hackers follow the money and the data. Connected cars offer both in abundance, making them an attractive target for three primary threat actors: Threat Actor Motivation Target Organized Cybercrime Financial Gain (Ransom/Extortion) OEMs, S...