The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has given Kenyan motorists two months to collect physical vehicle logbooks awaiting collection at its offices, warning that unclaimed documents will be disposed of under its records-management policy.
In a public notice issued on Monday, October 12, the authority urged vehicle owners who have yet to collect their printed logbooks to do so before the deadline expires.
The latest warning follows an earlier notice issued in June, when NTSA announced that it would retain printed but uncollected logbooks for a maximum of six months. In August, the authority reminded motorists that four months remained before the deadline.
The October notice reduces that period to two months, putting motorists whose documents are already printed but uncollected under renewed pressure to complete the process.
NTSA has clarified that collecting the documents is free of charge. Motorists are required to present their previous logbook and a valid identification document at an NTSA office or designated collection centre for verification.
How motorists can check and collect their logbooks
NTSA has advised vehicle owners to confirm whether their documents are ready before travelling to a collection centre.
Motorists can check the status of uncollected logbooks through the authority’s online service-status portal at https://servicestatus.ntsa.go.ke/.
The portal allows users to search for uncollected logbooks using their vehicle registration numbers. It also provides status checks for smart driving licences and reflective number plates.
After confirming that a logbook is available, motorists can visit an NTSA office or Huduma Centre to complete collection.
The authority’s offices generally operate from Monday to Friday, between 8am and 5pm.
NTSA has also warned that motorists may encounter difficulties when applying for services that require the current or original logbook if they have not collected the document.
The warning is particularly relevant to vehicle owners who have completed registration or ownership-transfer transactions but have not picked up the resulting paperwork.
Move to electronic logbooks drives transition
The collection deadline comes as Kenya transitions from physical vehicle registration certificates to electronic logbooks, commonly known as e-Logbooks.
NTSA introduced the electronic system on June 10, 2026, as part of a wider government initiative to digitise public services through the eCitizen platform.
Under the new arrangement, vehicle owners can access, download and verify their electronic registration certificates through their eCitizen accounts after completing eligible transactions.
The authority says the digital system is designed to improve service delivery, reduce administrative delays and strengthen the security of vehicle ownership records.
Electronic verification is also intended to reduce the risks associated with forged, lost or damaged physical documents, while making it easier for relevant institutions to confirm ownership details.
Applications submitted before June 10 continue to be processed under the earlier arrangement and may result in physical logbooks being issued. Transactions processed under the new system are generally handled electronically.
The transition has therefore created a need for motorists with previously printed documents to collect them while the authority continues expanding its digital services.
Court ruling complicates the physical logbook transition
The latest notice comes amid a legal challenge to the implementation of electronic logbooks.
In August, the High Court issued a conservatory order directing NTSA to continue recognising existing physical logbooks while a petition challenging aspects of the e-Logbook rollout is heard and determined.
Justice Patricia Mande issued the order after petitioners raised concerns about public participation, data privacy, cybersecurity and aspects of the electronic registration system.
The court restrained the authorities from permanently discontinuing or invalidating existing physical certificates of registration held by members of the public.
However, the court did not suspend the entire electronic logbook programme, allowing NTSA to continue operating the digital system while the case proceeds.
The distinction is important: the authority’s deadline concerns the collection and proposed disposal of physical documents left unclaimed at its offices, while the court order protects the continued validity and recognition of existing physical logbooks.
The full legal implications of the October collection notice in light of the court order should be clarified by NTSA, particularly regarding the proposed disposal of documents that remain uncollected after the deadline.
What motorists should do
Motorists with pending physical logbooks should first check the online service-status portal to establish whether their documents are available.
Those whose documents are ready should carry their previous logbooks and identification documents when visiting an NTSA office or designated collection centre. They should not pay brokers or intermediaries for a collection service that the authority says is free.
Vehicle owners who cannot locate their documents on the portal can contact NTSA through its official website, email address, info@ntsa.go.ke, or telephone number 0709 932 000.
The authority’s warning also highlights the importance of keeping vehicle ownership records accessible, particularly when undertaking transfers, verification procedures or other transactions requiring registration documents.
Digitalisation and public access remain central issues
The e-Logbook rollout is part of Kenya’s broader effort to modernise public administration and reduce dependence on paper-based records.
Supporters of the transition point to the potential benefits of faster transactions, easier verification and improved protection against fraud. However, concerns raised in court over privacy, cybersecurity and access to digital services demonstrate the need for implementation that protects motorists’ rights while improving efficiency.
For motorists, the immediate task is to establish whether their physical documents are awaiting collection and act promptly.
