Kenyans Given Up to July 1st to Acquire Chip-Empowered Driving Licenses

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have given Kenyan drivers up to July 1st, 2020 to acquire smart driving licenses.

NTSA rolled out the chip-empowered licenses in 2018 with an aim of instilling order on Kenyan roads. The chip holds the driver’s information and a points system that is used to discipline drivers.

The e-driving license is loaded with points that get deducted every time a driver commits a traffic offense, with NTSA withdrawing one's license when the points are exhausted.

The digital licenses, widely used in the Western countries, will be loaded with 20 maximum points that are deducted progressively based on the magnitude of the offense committed.

Minor breaches such as overlapping will see one point deducted, while drivers will recover a single lost point if they are not found culpable of another offense in a period of one week.

Serious offenses including drunk-driving and speeding will lead to loss of more than 10 points, fines and other disciplinary actions such as withdrawal of a license for life.

To apply for the smart driving licenses, one is required to register on NTSA’s Citizen self-service portal, the Transport Integrated Management Systems (TIMS).

Applicants are also required to submit a copy of their old driving license, a copy of the national identity card, a Kenya Revenue Authority PIN, blood group and an application fee of KSh3,000.