New emission levy to drive up costs for used car buyers

Politics and policy

A traffic jam at Ngara on Thika Highway. The Energy Regulatory Commission plans to charge carbon emission fees on imported vehicles beginning July. PHOTO | FILE 

By EVELYNE SITUMA AND NEVILLE OTUKI

In Summary

• The new levy comes in the form of carbon emission fees the ERC plans to charge on imported vehicles that emit fumes beyond a yet-to-be determined level.
• Those whose emissions are below the benchmark would get a rebate depending on how far the emissions fall below the set limit.

Energy sector regulator, the ERC is set to bring into effect new motor vehicle carbon emission rules that could see the cost of popular used imported cars increase significantly beginning July.