Speed governor in Kenya: which vehicles need one, the 80 km/h rule and prices (2026)

A speed governor (also called a speed limiter) stops a vehicle from going faster than a set speed. In Kenya the law requires one on public service vehicles such as matatus and buses and on commercial vehicles heavier than 3,048 kg empty, set so the vehicle cannot exceed 80 km/h.

If you own a saloon or a small SUV on Uber or Bolt, the short answer is that we could not find any rule that requires a speed governor on it. The reasons, and the honest caveats, are below.

What the law says

The rule is rule 41A of the Traffic Rules under the Traffic Act. It says the engine of:

• every public service vehicle, except taxi cabs, and
• every commercial vehicle whose tare weight exceeds 3,048 kg

must be fitted with a speed governor that meets the specification the minister sets in the Gazette, and is adjusted so that "at all times, and in any load condition, the vehicle cannot exceed the speed of 80 kph". The vehicle must also display a certificate from a certifying officer showing that a compliant governor is fitted.

The specification was set by Legal Notice 217 of 2013, which approves governors conforming to the Kenya Bureau of Standards specification KS 2295 (parts 1 and 2), tested and approved by KEBS and the Chief Mechanical and Transport Engineer.

There is a second rule for lorries. The NTSA (Operation of Commercial Vehicles) Regulations, 2018 apply to commercial vehicles with a tare weight above 3,048 kg. They say all such vehicles must have a speed governor that conforms to KS 2295 or is approved by NTSA, and an operator applying for a commercial vehicle licence has to show evidence of it.

Does an Uber or Bolt car need a speed governor?

We read the rules that apply to ride-hailing cars and found no requirement. The detail matters, so here it is.

1. Rule 41A exempts taxi cabs. It applies to public service vehicles "except taxi cabs".
2. Ride-hailing cars have their own regulations. The NTSA (Transport Network Companies, Owners, Drivers and Passengers) Regulations, 2022 call them "transport network vehicles": cars with seating for no more than seven passengers plus the driver, used through an app. Regulation 19 lists what such a car needs: valid insurance, a valid certificate of roadworthiness, no more than 16 years from manufacture, safe condition, and a hands-free holder for the phone. A speed governor is not on the list.
3. The weight rule does not catch a saloon. The commercial vehicle regulations only apply above 3,048 kg tare, which an ordinary saloon, hatchback or small SUV does not come close to.

The honest caveat: the 2022 regulations define a transport network vehicle as something different from a taxicab, so the taxi exemption in rule 41A does not name app cars directly. We found nothing in the Traffic Rules, the 2022 regulations, or any NTSA notice that brings app cars under rule 41A. But no NTSA statement says so in plain words either. If an inspector or officer asks for a governor on a saloon used on Uber or Bolt, ask which rule they are applying, and check with NTSA directly. We will update this page if NTSA publishes anything new.

Uber's and Bolt's own car lists for Kenya are covered in our vehicle requirements guide. You can also run a car through Can my car join Uber?.

The real-time tracking requirement

In November 2018 NTSA ordered PSVs to move to a new, tamper-proof standard, KS 2295:2018, effective 1 December 2018, with an upgrade deadline of 1 March 2019. The new governors carry a SIM card and send data to NTSA's servers: the vehicle's speed, location, the driver, and the Sacco it belongs to.

Matatu owners resisted. The deadline was extended to June 2019, then to 5 August 2019. In September 2019 NTSA changed its approach: rather than a fixed date, it said vehicles would be expected to comply when they go for inspection. For an owner, the practical meaning is simple: if your vehicle needs a governor, buy one that meets the current KS 2295 standard and can transmit data, because that is what the inspection centre checks.

When NTSA published its approved supplier list in August 2025, it referred to KS 2295:2023 for the licensing of speed limiter suppliers.

What happened to the 2026 rules

In 2026 NTSA brought in the NTSA (Operation of Commercial Vehicles) Regulations, 2026, which would have required commercial operators to fit telematics systems, speed governors and underride protection, with limits on driver hours. In July 2026 the Senate annulled those regulations, together with the 2026 school transport and vehicle inspection rules, so they cannot be enforced. The older rules described above still apply.

Approved suppliers

A supplier needs a permit from KEBS, approval from the Chief Mechanical and Transport Engineer, and an NTSA licence before it can sell speed limiters. In August 2025 NTSA published 12 approved speed limiter suppliers:

• Ajira Connect
• Karibia Technology Solution Limited
• Kensrin Company Limited
• Marts Logistics Limited
• Oak and Gold Limited
• Pinnacle Systems Limited
• Power Governors Limited
• Saferider Management Systems Limited
• Track and Trace Limited
• Tracktrail Solution
• Trailmycar Solutions Limited
• Transport & Lifting Services Limited

Many more sellers advertise "NTSA approved" governors online. Before you pay, check the company against the current list on NTSA's website, and make sure you get the certificate the vehicle must display.

What a speed governor costs

Prices are rarely published. The one current price we could confirm from a seller's own site: Carro Tracking Solutions lists a GPS digital speed governor at KSh 30,000, including installation, a phone app and a one-year warranty (as listed on 1 October 2026). The listing does not state a renewal fee.

Ask any supplier three questions before buying:

1. Is the device to the current KS 2295 standard, and does it send data to NTSA?
2. Is installation and the compliance certificate included?
3. What does the yearly data or SIM renewal cost after the first year?

The fine

Failing to fit the prescribed speed governor in a PSV or commercial vehicle is a minor offence with an instant fine of KSh 10,000 under the Traffic (Minor Offences) Rules. The same figure appears in the list of instant fines NTSA published in June 2026.

For Uber and Bolt owners

You almost certainly do not need a speed governor. The money is better spent on a good tracker, which most comprehensive insurers reward with a much lower theft excess. See our guide to car tracking prices in Kenya, and keep your PSV insurance and inspection current.