Here is what that Red “CD” Numberplate means on Kenyan Roads

Howdy Fam,
Now today let’s Torque about Kenyan number plates. Have you ever come across a vehicle with a plate that leaves you more confused about who even owns it? My Friend Jemo always asks “Sasa hii ya 12 CD ikikugonga utasema uligongwa na gari ya wapi?” means “Who will you report as the owner of car that hit you”?
As a curious mind wanting to know all stuff and this has been one of those answered questions. Which plate is for who is the question.

The current Number Plates

To start off let’s talk about the current number plates which the government is currently replacing through the national transport and safety authority(NTSA). The new plates are designed to have more security features to enable vehicle identification as a measure to keep updated records within the government. Kenyans are parting with approximately 3,050Ksh to replace their number plates. Read more anout the new number plates in Kenya here

Special Number Plates

Apart from the normal civilian number plates Kenya has a series of number plates considered special plates. These are to cover all other special categories such as identifying government vehicles, Parastatals, NGOs, and other special categories. They include but are not limited to

The Kenyan Government uses GK;
The Kenyan County Governments use CG, for example, Nairobi County vehicles are 47 CG;
Governors use GVN followed by their county code;
The Speaker of the National Assembly uses SNA;
The Speaker of the Senate uses SS;
The Chief Justice uses CJ;
Kenya Army – KA;
Kenya Air Force – KAF;
Kenya Navy – KN;
Kenya Agricultural Institute – KAI;
Diplomats use N CD and they are red plates with white letters and numbers;
Parastatals use blue plates with white letters and numbers
Motorcycles now use the KMCA series;
Heavy Machinery uses the “KHMA” series;
Tricycle uses the KTWC series.
NGO – KX;
Vehicle Dealers Number plate series – KG and KD. The plates have a green background with white letters
Source: wikipedia

Diplomatic Number Plates “CD”

Now on to the “CD” Plates which are for diplomats in Kenya. The Plate is usually Red with white letters starting with a number then CD eg 12 CD 21 K then it represents the country in question, the diplomat rank, and if the country has an embassy in Kenya or not. So 12 is the country code, CD denotes its a diplomatic vehicle, The number 21 after CD denotes the rank of the owner and K means the country has an embassy in Kenya. Source: Kenyans.co.ke

The plate sequence is based on Kenya’s independence and the countries that recognized the independence of Kenya are assigned the number plates series with the first country to recognize Kenya’s Independence getting the First number in the Series 1 CD. Germany was the first nation to recognize Kenya as an independent state, hence it was given a diplomatic number plate. 1 CD

Below is the List of all countries and their diplomatic number plate codes as of 2008.

1 CD – Germany
2 CD – Russian Federation
3 CD – Ethiopia
4 CD – China
5 CD – Norway
6 CD – Hungary
7 CD – Egypt
8 CD – Serbia
9 CD – Italy
10 CD – France
11 CD – Slovakia
12 CD – Denmark
13 CD – Japan
14 CD – Sudan
15 CD – Austria
16 CD – India
17 CD – Australia
18 CD – Canada
19 CD – Holy See (The Vatican)
20 CD – Finland
21 CD – Switzerland
22 CD – Britain
23 CD – Liberia
24 CD – Israel
25 CD – Nigeria
26 CD – Ghana
27 CD – Netherlands
28 CD – Malawi
29 CD – USA
30 CD – Belgium
31 CD – Sweden
32 CD – Pakistan
33 CD – Poland
34 CD – Korea

35 CD – Bulgaria
36 CD – Greece
37 CD – Cuba
38 CD – Kuwait
39 CD – Spain
40 UN – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
41 UN – World Health Organization (WHO)
42 UN – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
43 UN – International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (The World Bank)
44 UN – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
45 UN – World Food Programme (WFP)
45 CD – Romania
46 CD – Thailand
47 CD – The African Union (A.U)
48 CD – Colombia
49 CD – India
50 CD – Somalia
51 CD – Brazil
52 CD – Turkey
53 CD – Lesotho
54 CD – Zambia
55 CD – Madagascar
56 CD – Malaysia

57 CD – D.R. Congo (DRC)
58 CD – eSwatini
59 CD – Sri Lanka
60 CD – Iraq
61 CD – Rwanda
62 UN – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees / UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
63 UN – United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Eastern & Southern African Regional Office
64 CD – Iran
65 CD – Cyprus
66 CD – Argentina
67 UN – United Nations Information Centre (UNIC)
68 CD – Philippines
69 CD – Burundi
70 CD – Chile
71 CD – Oman
72 CD – League of Arab States / Arab League
73 CD – European Union
74 CD – Yemen

75 CD – Kenya Mission to UNEP
76 CD – Côte d’Ivoire (Consulate)
77 CD – Bangladesh
78 CD – Saudi Arabia
79 UN – United Nations Office for Project Services / (UNOPS)
80 CD – Libya
81 CD – Ireland (Consulate)
82 CD – United Nations Centre for Human Settlements / UN-Habitat (Kenya Mission)
83 CD – Algeria
84 CD – Palestine
85 CD – Uganda
86 CD – Mexico
87 CD – Morocco
88 CD – Costa Rica (Consulate)
89 CD – Gabon (Consulate)
90 UN – United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Kenya Country Office
91 CD – Indonesia
92 CD – Portugal