Why do some cars have red number plates in Kenya?

All vehicle are required by law to have a registered number plate. All vehicles in Kenya are registered by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles which is under NTSA based on the identity and group function of a vehicle. There are 11 types of number plates in Kenya that are most important to know.

Also, you might have been seeing different number plates from various autos and wondering why the unique number plates for certain vehicles, below is a detailed list of every unique number plate available in Kenya.

11 Types of Number Plates in Kenya You Need to Know are:

1.Civilian Vehicle Number Plates

Public vehicles are the common vehicles in Kenyan roads and commonly used by citizens. Their plates have a white oblong number plate on the front bumper and a yellow oblong or square number plate on the rear bumper.

The numbering begins with K.. written in black against a white or yellow background.

2. Government of Kenya – GK Plates
Government of Kenya plates denotes vehicles owned by the government like police cars.

3. County Government Vehicles

County government vehicles have a unique numbering for precise identification. The format for county government plates is:

Two numbers-two letters-three numbers-one letter

For instance: 47 CG 456A

47 – County Code

CG – County Government

4. County Governors Vehicles

Certainly the format is unique for Governors vehicles only. It follows the format: GVN 37A

Where: GVN – denotes Governor

037 – denotes county code, in this case 37 for Kakamega

5. Parastatals and Government Institutions

This are organizations or institutions under the government of Kenya including commissions’, companies, hospitals, public schools, universities and colleges under the administration of the government.

Besides the number plates of these vehicles are similar to civilian vehicles; however the difference is in the background. The generation plates are in white color written on a dark blue background.

6. Customized Number Plate

A vehicle has a right to customize customized number plates at huge fee. Identically it will cost you up to 1 million Kenyan Shillings to make a customized number plate with a unique name on it.

7. Diplomatic Number Plate

These are specific vehicles belonging to foreign embassies based Kenya. Also, diplomatic number plates are given to embassies as a symbol of recognition to Kenya as an Independent state. Evidently they are written in white color against a red background

e.g. : 99 CD 19 K

99 – code for specific country

CD – chartered diplomat

K – Shows country where embassy is based, in this case Kenya

Read: Green Oblong KT KG KC and KD Number Plate in Kenya

8. International NGO’s

Presently, International Non-governmental organizations have a unique category of number plates numbering written against a red background and start with KX.

For instance, KX 05 D 59

KX – denoting international NGO

05 D – denoting specific NGO and rank of the officer

9. Kenya Defense Forces – KDF

Kenya Defense Forces have a unique plate numbering that adheres to international numbering while on their missions. Unlike other government and parastatal agencies, KDF vehicle plates do not begin with GK.

10. Trailer Plates

If you have been keen, you must have noticed that trailers have a unique plate numbering from the engine truck. Equally important, It is because a trailer can haul various trailers continually. Plates are uniquely written in yellow colour and begin with Z followed by numerical numbers.

11. Motorbikes and Tuktuk

Motorbikes, Tuktuks and any other special kind of vehicles have a unique plate with a yellow background written with four letter plates black in color.