Kenya’s transport regulator has acknowledged delays in issuing vehicle number plates, after weeks of growing complaints from motorists who say they are stuck waiting without clear answers.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) said it is working to resolve the backlog, but did not give a timeline for when normal service will resume.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay,” the authority said in a response to public queries. “Please note that the matter is being addressed. We kindly request your patience as we work towards its resolution.”

For many vehicle owners, the explanation has done little to ease frustration. Drivers say they have waited weeks, in some cases months, for new registration plates or replacements. Others say communication from the agency has been inconsistent.

Some motorists have also questioned why NTSA has continued to roll out digital services while basic functions such as plate issuance remain slow.

“I have been waiting for weeks with no clear update,” one motorist said in an online complaint. “You cannot register a car and then be left in limbo like this.”

The delays are not new. They have been reported since the start of the year, affecting number plates and smart driving licence processing. Officials familiar with the matter have previously pointed to a backlog of applications running into the hundreds of thousands, stretching production capacity.

NTSA has now directed affected motorists to check application progress through its online portal at servicestatus.ntsa.go.ke.

Still, for many applicants, the lack of physical plates has real consequences. Without them, vehicles cannot be fully cleared for legal road use, leaving owners exposed to penalties during inspections or roadside checks.

Under Kenya’s Traffic Act, driving without valid registration plates can attract fines of up to Ksh300,000, a possible prison term of up to 12 months, or both. Vehicles may also be impounded.

The issue has drawn wider attention as transport systems in Nairobi and other cities rely heavily on timely registration for both private and commercial vehicles. The delays have raised concerns among motorists, dealers and logistics operators who depend on predictable processing times to keep operations moving.

NTSA has not indicated whether additional production capacity or system changes are planned to clear the backlog.

For now, motorists are left waiting, with only assurances that the situation is being handled — and no clear date for when the wait might end.