Explained: Why Motorcycle Number Plates Are Different From Vehicle Plates

These requirements are set out in the Traffic (Registration Plates) Rules, 2016, which provide separate registration specifications for motorcycles and vehicles.

If you have ever wondered why motorcycle registration numbers begin with 'KM' instead of following the usual format for ordinary vehicles, the difference is set out in the law.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) assigns motorcycle registration numbers starting with 'KM', meaning Kenya Motorcycle, while ordinary vehicles use a different series.

The difference is not because of the motorcycle’s make, model, or manufacturer but because of the type of vehicle and the registration category assigned to it by NTSA.

Under the regulations, a motorcycle plate must bear seven optically recognisable characters with the prefix 'KM', making it the main feature that distinguishes it from ordinary vehicles.

Source: Kenyans.co.ke