If you are driving a vehicle purchased from a government auction that still bears the ghostly trace of its "GK" past in the records, you are driving a legal time bomb. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has issued a stern red alert, warning that thousands of buyers are sitting on assets they do not legally own.

The allure of ex-government vehicles—often sold at bargain prices—is undeniable. However, the NTSA has revealed a disturbing trend where buyers, eager to secure the deal, are neglecting the critical final step: re-registration. This is not merely a bureaucratic oversight; it is a legal abyss that leaves the vehicle tied to the state and the buyer exposed to a myriad of criminal and civil liabilities. Why does this matter now? Because the state is closing the loophole, and those caught napping face impoundment.

The "Ownership" Illusion

"Possession is not ownership in the eyes of the Traffic Act," an NTSA spokesperson clarified in a terse statement released this morning. "You may have the logbook entry, you may have the receipt from the auctioneer, but until that vehicle is formally re-registered from GK or Parastatal status to civilian status on the NTSA Service Portal, you are essentially driving a government vehicle without authorization."

The implications are severe. If an unregistered Ex-GK vehicle is involved in a robbery or a hit-and-run, the investigation trails back to the disposing ministry, wasting police time and complicating the buyer's defense. Furthermore, insurance companies are increasingly rejecting claims for vehicles whose regulatory status is in limbo.

• The Process: The authority has simplified the process, but compliance remains low. Buyers must log into serviceportal.ntsa.go.ke, select "Motor Vehicle Re-registration," and upload the requisite documents: the original logbook, the auctioneer's letter, and the inspection report.
• The Deadline: While no hard deadline was given in the presser, insiders at Upper Hill suggest a crackdown is imminent. Traffic police have been alerted to flag vehicles with discrepancies between their number plates and their digital registration status during routine checks.

A Legacy of Laxity

This warning comes against the backdrop of a modernized vehicle registry. The era of "knowing someone" at Times Tower is over. The digital integration between NTSA and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) means that every vehicle is a data point. If the system says it's still a Ministry of Agriculture truck, but it's being used as a private matatu in Kiambu, the system will flag it.

For the prudent investor, the message is simple: finish the paperwork. The cost of re-registration is a fraction of the cost of fighting a legal battle over a car that, technically, isn't even yours. The days of driving "ghost" government cars are numbered.