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...
I. Introduction: The Mid-Sized Toyota Battle In the Kenyan sedan market, the Toyota Premio and the Toyota Corolla Axio are kings. Both offer Toyota's signature reliability, but they cater to slightly different buyers and come with distinct trade-offs in terms of maintenance and performance. The Axio is the economical, compact city car, while the Premio is the executive, comfortable road cruiser. Choosing between them requires looking beyond the price tag and deep into the real-world common issues and running costs faced by Kenyan owners. This guide pits the two titans against each other to help you decide which one will serve you best on our challenging roads and in your budget. II. Head-to-Head Comparison: The Key Differences Feature Toyota Corolla Axio (E140/E160) Toyota Premio (T240/T260) Target Audience Urban Commuter, Young Families, Budget Conscious. Mid-Level Executive, Older Families, Long-Distance Comfort. Engine (Most Common) $1.5\text{L } (1\text{NZ-FE})$ or $1....