Confusion over KEBS ban on vehicle spare parts

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) now says it has not banned importation of all motor vehicle spare parts but only those that do not meet the required standards in terms of packaging.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, KEBS Acting managing Director Bernard Nguyo said they were only prohibiting importation of vehicle spare parts that are sub-standard and could be risky.

“There have been media reports that the Kenya Bureau of Standards has banned the importation of used motor vehicle spare parts… Contrary to the impression being created, KEBS has not issued a notice to ban on all imported car spare parts,” said Mr. Nguyo.

According to KEBS, the imposed ban is on the importation of motor vehicle spare parts that are brought in ‘loose form’ meaning not properly packaged.

Some of the banned parts said to be in ‘loose form’ include; tyres, tubes, ball joints, tie rod-ends, rack-ends, brake hose pipes, brake pipes, brake and clutch cables, bearings, rubber bushes, oil seals, spark plugs, filters, air cleaner elements, clutch plates, pressure plates release bearings and brake pads.

Speaking in Mombasa on Wednesday, Trade and Industrialization CS Peter Munya supported the move undertaken by KEBS.

“We have not banned spare parts generally but specific spare parts… those that when used once cannot meet the standards of safety on our roads. Those kind of spare parts you can’t afford to use old ones,” said Munya.

On Tuesday, mechanics told Citizen TV that they prefer used spare parts from Dubai and Japan because they are of quality and are durable as compared to new ones mostly imported from India, China and Indonesia.

However, CS Munya says: “Those won’t work… your brakes will fail on the road and people will die.”

As the row between the authorities and dealers continue, KEBS says the currents regulations are not new but were formulated in 2013 and all key stakeholders were involved.