Transporters with expired truck permits can finally breathe a little easier after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) announced a temporary extension following a system downtime that has disrupted the issuance of exemption permits.
In a public notice issued on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, the Authority said the ongoing technical hitch had affected permit processing, forcing it to introduce temporary measures to reduce delays and avoid bringing cargo transport to a standstill.
“The Kenya National Highways Authority wishes to inform Transporters that Issuance of Exemption Permits has been affected owing to the ongoing permit system downtime,” KeNHA stated.
The Authority announced that trucks with expired permits will now enjoy a two-week extension, allowing them to continue operating using the cargo details already captured in their existing permits. The temporary relief will remain in place until June 9, 2026.
“Trucks with expired permits have been granted a two-week extension for the cargo described in the permit. This exemption will apply until 9th of June 2026,” the notice added.
KeNHA also outlined new interim procedures for fresh applications during the downtime. According to the Authority, Vehicle Inspectors will verify truck dimensions manually, while weighing stations will tag the vehicles and issue special release documents indicating the next steps.
“For new applications, Vehicle Inspectors are to confirm the dimensions, while Stations are to tag the vehicles and issue special release documents stating the action to be taken,” KeNHA explained.
The Authority further directed that the tags issued during this period must clearly capture vehicle dimensions and the charges payable. Once the permit system is restored, transporters will be required to regularise their applications and officially obtain their permits.
“The tags should capture the dimensions and charges payable, and should be closed once transporters obtain their permits when the system is back online,” the Authority stated.
KeNHA also addressed transporters handling abnormal loads, advising them to submit their applications through email for review and further guidance from Superintendents.
