This archive report was first published on 11 May 2021.
Kenya's used-car importers are up in arms over new regulations that could see them pay up to Ksh20,000 per unit for inspection fees. The regulations, first proposed by Kephis in 2017, would also require used vehicles to undergo phytosanitary decontamination prior to shipment to Kenya.
According to the new draft regulations, each container packing tyres, wires, or disassembled equipment would attract an inspection fee of Ksh3,000. Inspection fees for aircraft, motorised boats, and yachts would stand at Ksh20,000 each.
Kenya Auto Bazaar Association has questioned the focus on used vehicles in the move to weed out pests, demanding to see research that informed the decision from the agency. Association Chairman Charles Munyori asked why such strict regulations were not applied to all goods that could bring in pests.
“Kephis needs to show evidence of the threats they are describing. We want to see the statistics they are relying on to introduce the regulations and set the fees. Hundreds of thousands of used cars have been imported into the country and we have not seen any danger,” Munyori maintained.
The regulations are projected to earn Kephis in excess of Ksh200 million a year. Used car importers have also raised concerns over the piling costs due to various port levies, including the railway development levy and radiation inspection fee.
On May 13, stakeholders will meet to discuss the regulations, which have been met with resistance from used car importers.
