Government agencies will soon face tighter oversight in the use of official vehicles after the State announced a fresh set of digital measures aimed at improving accountability, cutting misuse and ensuring public resources are managed more efficiently.
The reforms were announced by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, who said the government is accelerating efforts to modernise the management of its vehicle fleet as part of the wider digitisation of public service.
He said the changes are intended to improve monitoring, strengthen compliance with existing rules and close loopholes that have affected the management of government vehicles.
Koskei spoke after leading a consultative meeting on Thursday, August 6, 2026, attended by representatives from the Executive, Parliament, the Judiciary and security agencies. The meeting reviewed the current guidelines on government vehicles to ensure they reflect changing transport demands, advances in technology and the need for stronger accountability in public service.
"We are moving with urgency to strengthen the management of Government vehicles in line with existing protocols," Koskei said.
Among the issues discussed were the misuse of government number plates, incomplete fuel and mileage records and the failure to account for vehicles acquired through donor-funded projects once the projects are completed. Koskei said the reforms are meant to eliminate these weaknesses and improve how government assets are managed.
He noted that every shilling used to fuel, insure, repair or replace government vehicles comes from taxpayers and must be spent in a way that supports efficient service delivery.
A major feature of the reforms is the rollout of the Government Vehicle Management System (GVMS), a digital platform that will enable authorities to monitor the government's vehicle fleet in real time. The system will provide information on approved drivers, fuel consumption, mileage and maintenance records for every official vehicle.
The government is also undertaking the compilation of a complete inventory of all vehicles owned by ministries, departments, agencies and county governments. The information will be verified to create one accurate national database, while measures will be introduced to safeguard transparency, protect data and strengthen cybersecurity.
In addition, all government vehicles will be fitted with tracking devices in line with existing protocols to improve monitoring and accountability.
Koskei said technology must be supported by responsible leadership, adding that officers entrusted with government vehicles have a duty to ensure they are used properly and for the benefit of the public.
“Public officers entrusted with government vehicles must exercise responsibility, uphold discipline and ensure that these assets serve the public interest,” he said.
He said the success of the reforms will depend on competent personnel, clearly defined institutional responsibilities and firm enforcement of the rules across government.
Koskei added that the government will continue embracing technology to automate oversight, improve compliance, identify misuse and strengthen accountability in the management of public assets.
He further revealed that the National Transport Policy is being finalised, while discussions with the National Treasury are ongoing to improve the registration and management of donor-funded and project vehicles.
Those who attended the meeting included Deputy Head of the Public Service Amos Gathecha, Principal Secretaries Patrick Mariru of Defence, Cyrell Odede of Public Investments and Assets Management, Mohamed Dhagar of Transport and Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary Joseph Busiega.
The government says the new measures will improve the management of official vehicles, strengthen transparency and ensure public assets are used only for government work.