High Court Orders NTSA to Keep Recognising Physical Logbooks Amid e-Logbook Case
Justice Patricia Nyaundi Mande issued the conservatory order in a case filed by Javan Onyango and Emmanuel Kiplagat, who have challenged aspects of NTSA’s transition to digital vehicle ownership records.
In a recent ruling, the High Court in Kenya has directed the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to continue recognizing existing physical motor vehicle logbooks as valid documents pending the resolution of a legal challenge against the implementation of the electronic motor vehicle registration certificate, or e-Logbook.
Justice Patricia Nyaundi Mande issued the conservatory order in response to a petition filed by Javan Onyango and Emmanuel Kiplagat, who argued that NTSA's transition to digital vehicle ownership records was problematic on several grounds.
The decision grants temporary relief to vehicle owners who are accustomed to using physical logbooks as proof of vehicle ownership. However, the ruling does not suspend the entire e-Logbook program. Instead, it focuses on preventing NTSA from permanently discontinuing or invalidating existing physical certificates of registration. The court acknowledges that the e-Logbook system has been in place since 2014 and recognized its statutory basis under the Traffic Act.
The petitioners raised concerns about public participation, data protection, cybersecurity, digital exclusion, charges, and the legality of NTSA's implementation process. They argued that NTSA had failed to adequately engage the public and provide necessary information about data protection impact assessments, cybersecurity audit reports, and public participation records.
The authority countered by stating that electronic vehicle records have existed since 2014 through the Transport Integrated Management System (TIMS) and defended the electronic system's security measures, such as encryption and QR-code verification.
The court's decision preserves the status quo while the broader legal questions are being considered. Motorists who currently possess physical vehicle logbooks can continue using them until the court determines the petition's merits. The ruling does not bring an end to the e-Logbook program, as the full legal issues surrounding public participation, data protection, cybersecurity, digital access, charges, and the legality of NTSA's implementation process will be addressed in a subsequent hearing.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
