The National Transport and Safety Authority has intensified preparations for the nationwide rollout of Kenya’s new digital motor vehicle registration certificate system, popularly known as the eLogbook, in a major shift away from paper-based vehicle ownership documents.
The transition is expected to officially go live on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, marking one of the biggest digital changes in Kenya’s transport and vehicle registration sector in recent years.
Under the new system, motorists will no longer rely on physical paper logbooks as the primary proof of vehicle ownership.
Instead, vehicle owners will:
- Access their logbooks digitally through eCitizen
- Download and verify ownership online
- Conduct transfers and registration-related services electronically
- Receive faster approvals and processing
What the New NTSA eLogbook Means
According to NTSA, the eLogbook system will now be integrated into:
- New vehicle registration
- Vehicle ownership transfer
- Change of vehicle particulars
- Vehicle inspections
- Dealer and assembler processes
- Insurance and financing verification systems
The Authority says the move is aimed at creating a fully digital transport service ecosystem while reducing paperwork, delays and fraud.
Why NTSA Is Replacing Paper Logbooks
NTSA says the current paper logbook system has faced multiple challenges over the years, including:
- Forged ownership documents
- Delayed processing
- Lost or damaged logbooks
- Manual verification bottlenecks
- Corruption during transfers and approvals
The Authority argues the digital system will significantly reduce these risks through:
- Real-time verification
- Secure digital records
- Automated processing
- Easier tracking of ownership history
Faster Vehicle Transfers Expected
One of the biggest changes motorists could notice is speed.
NTSA says some services that previously took:
- 3 to 7 days
- several weeks
- or even months in disputed cases
could now move to:
- same-day approval
- or instant digital processing in some transactions.
This could particularly affect:
- used car dealerships
- fleet owners
- matatu SACCOs
- logistics firms
- banks and insurers
who rely heavily on ownership verification processes.
PSV Operators and Matatu Sector to Be Affected
The rollout is also expected to impact Kenya’s public transport industry, especially PSV operators and matatu owners.
The new system could:
- improve compliance tracking
- simplify ownership verification
- strengthen insurance monitoring
- support future enforcement systems
The transition comes as NTSA continues broader digital reforms targeting:
- PSV regulation
- speed compliance
- inspection records
- road safety monitoring.
Public Training Sessions Already Scheduled
NTSA has already announced virtual sensitization and onboarding sessions targeting:
- Vehicle dealers
- Financial institutions
- Insurance firms
- Driving schools
- School transport operators
- PSV stakeholders
- County governments
- General motorists
The authority says the sessions are intended to help users familiarize themselves with the upgraded eCitizen-based processes before full implementation.
Bigger Picture: Kenya’s Push Toward Digital Transport Systems
The eLogbook rollout forms part of Kenya’s wider push toward digitized government services and smart transport management systems.
Over the past few years, NTSA has increasingly shifted services online, including:
- driving license applications
- smart DL rollout
- vehicle inspection booking
- PSV licensing
- digital compliance systems
The eLogbook is expected to become a key foundation for future transport reforms, especially as Kenya modernizes vehicle records, enforcement systems and urban mobility infrastructure.
