Table of Contents
Here is a list of the new driving licence classes in Kenya. Types of driving licenses in Kenya. Driving license categories in Kenya.
In Kenya, a driving license or licence is issued to individuals who successfully pass the driving school training and test. That is to say, individuals who lack driving licenses are not allowed to drive motor vehicle in Kenya. Those who have an interim driving licence Kenya can be allowed upon prove to the police. Again, you can only have one license however, one can be a holder of various driving licence categories in Kenya.
How can I get a Class A driving license in Kenya?
Firstly, to get a Class A license in Kenya, you should submit a dully filled medical examination report and be over 16 years of age. Secondly, you need to pass all the internal driving examinations offered by your training school. Additionally, you must successfully pass the NTSA 5 kilometers proficiency test of the Highway Code and traffic signs. Upon completion of this set of tests, your driving school will issue you with an interim driving licence. After a period of 2 weeks, you will get a Class A license from NTSA that is valid in Kenya.
We hope that you read our previous article about the best driving schools in Kenya. Similarly, we also covered the fee structure for driver training in AA driving school and budget driving school.
Driving Licence Classes in Kenya
Driving licence classes in Kenya. The driving licence classes in Kenya are divided into 7 categories namely Category A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Most importantly, these classes define the types of vehicles that a driver is allowed to operate.
In summary, we will list the name of the driving licence classes in Kenya. Then, we shall provide information about the driving categories and their requirements in Kenya.
1. Category A driving licenses
| Category | Description | Requirements |
| A1 Moped | Enables one to ride a motorcycle of up to 50ccNo passengers allowed to be carriedNo loadsNo passenger | Minimum age of 16 years |
| A2 Light motorcycle | Enables one to ride a ride motorcycle above 50ccCan carry a maximum load of 60 Kg (for up to 400cc)Can carry a passenger | Minimum age of 18 years |
| A3 Motorcycle taxi couriers – three wheelers (e.g. Tuk-tuk) | Enables one to ride a motorcycle above 100ccCan carry a maximum load of 100 Kg (for up to 50cc)Can carry a passenger | Minimum age of 21 years1 year riding experience of category A2 |
2. Category B driving licences
| Category | Description | Requirements |
| B1 Light vehicle | Enables one to drive a light vehicle (passenger car) with a maximum Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 3500 kg with one light trailer (not exceeding 750 kg)Can drive a vehicle equipped with both a manual or automatic gearboxCan carry up to a maximum of 7 passengers | Minimum age of 18 years |
| B2 Light vehicle (automatic) | Enable one to drive a light vehicle (passenger car) with an automatic gear box and a maximum Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 3500 kg with one light trailer (not exceeding 750 kg)Cannot drive a vehicle equipped with a manual gearboxCan carry up to a maximum of 7 passengers | Minimum age of 18 years |
| B3 Professional | Enables one to drive a light vehicle (passenger car) with a maximum Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 3500 kg with one light trailer (not exceeding 750 kg)Equipped with a manual or automatic gear boxCan carry up to a maximum of 7 passengers | Minimum age of 21 years |
3. Category C driving licence classes in Kenya
| Category | Description | Requirements |
| C1 Light truck | Enables one to drive a light truck with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeding 3500 kg and a maximum of 7500 kg with maximum one light trailer not exceeding 750 kg Equipped with manual or automatic gear box | Minimum age of 22 years |
| C Medium truck | Enables one to drive a heavy truck with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeding 7500 kg with maximum one light trailer not exceeding 750 kgEquipped with manual or automatic gear box | Minimum age of 24 yearsTwo years experience of driving category C1Required to undergo training |
| CE Heavy truck with trailer | Enables one to drive a heavy truck with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeding 7500 kg with a heavy trailer or semi-trailerEnables one to drive articulated vehicles (i.e. a vehicle with two or more parts that are connected so that they can move in different directions at the same time)Equipped with manual or automatic gear box | Minimum age of 28 yearsFour years experience of driving category CRequired to undergo training and retesting for category CE |
| CE Heavy goods vehicle for transportation of hazardous materials | Enables one to drive a heavy truck with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeding 7500 kg with heavy trailer or semitrailerEnables one to drive articulated vehiclesEquipped with a manual or automatic gear box | Minimum age of 30 yearsTwo years experience of driving category CERequired to undergo training and retesting for category CD |
4. Category D driving licences
| Category | Description | Requirements |
| D1 Van | Enables one to drive a van with a maximum of 14 passengersEquipped with manual or automatic gearbox | Minimum of 22 years |
| D2 Mini-bus | Enables one to drive a bus with 14 to 32 passengersEquipped with manual or automatic gear box | Minimum age of 25 yearsMinimum experience of 3 years driving category D1Required to undergo training and retesting for category D2 |
| D3 Large bus | Enables one to drive a bus with 33 or more passengersEquipped with manual or automatic gear box | Minimum age of 30 yearsMinimum experience of 3 years driving category D2Required to undergo training and retesting for category D3 |
5. Category E driving licences
| Category | Description | Requirements |
| Special professional driving licence | Enables one to drive any vehicles classified under categories C1, C, CE, D, D1, D2, D3 and licenced as EC1, EC, ECE, ED, ED1, ED2 and ECD3 respectively | Minimum age of 21yearsCompleted 3 months driving practice with any vehicle classified under categories C1, C, CE, D, D1, D2, D3 and licenced as EC1, EC, ECE, ED, ED1, ED2 and ECD 3 respectivelyClass ED2 licences shall be endorsed for class D1 and D while Class ECE licences shall be endorsed for C and C1 |
6. Category F driving licences
| Category | Description | Requirements |
| Special driving licence for Persons with Disability (PWD) | Enables one to drive a vehicle depending on the category the PWD is trained on | Minimum age of 18 yearsRequirement is as per the class the categories of abled drivers |
7. Category G driving licences
| Category | Description | Requirements |
| Industrial construction and agricultural plants equipment | Enables one to operate forklift, motor grader, shovel, excavator, roller and any other special kinds of plant and equipment for which special authorization is required from the authority as defined in the Traffic Act before such plants can be registered for use | Endorsement for class G will be done on the driving licence |
