Govt, industry push for tech solutions as Kenya grapples with car theft

Kenya continues to record high numbers of motor vehicle thefts despite a reported drop in cases last year. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) says the growing number of car owners has heightened the need for advanced safety measures.

Speaking at the 2025 Telematics Summit in Nairobi, Principal Secretary for Roads and Transport Joseph Mbugua said the government is keen on adopting technology to curb rising cases.

“There is a need for continuous capacity building of industry players. Technology adoption is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity,” he said.

Figures from the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) show that 327 vehicles were stolen in 2024, a 28 per cent decline from 419 cases reported in 2023. The drop has been attributed to increased vigilance by motorists and improved law enforcement.

However, stakeholders in the automotive and insurance sectors say the threat remains significant and is evolving.

“We are seeing a worrying trend,” said Daniel Bett, an engineer at telematics firm Teltonika. “Despite some progress, car thieves are evolving. It’s not just about preventing theft anymore — it’s about staying a step ahead with technology.”

Data from AKI indicates vehicles with registration numbers starting with KDs were the most targeted, accounting for 50.15 per cent of thefts, followed by KCs (35.17%), KBs (10.4%) and KAs (1.83%). Toyota remains the most stolen brand at 54.91 per cent of cases, ahead of Isuzu, Mazda, Nissan and Mitsubishi.

The summit, spearheaded by Teltonika, brought together over 400 participants from across East Africa to discuss emerging threats and solutions in vehicle security. The company says Kenya presents significant opportunities not only for personal car tracking but also for safeguarding road construction equipment, cargo transport and fleet management.

Stakeholders warn that unless Kenya scales up adoption of real-time monitoring and smart tracking technologies, theft cases could rise again.