Plans to digitize the traditional car number plates are gaining momentum and a German firm has been awarded the tender to supply the new automated plates.

EHA Hoffman Group, beat 13 other firms to win the Ksh 230m tender, which has been approved by the Interior CS.

However one of the firms that was competing for the tender, Tropical Technologies, which is the supplier of the current plates is disgruntled by the procurement process and has lodged a complaint with the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA).

The Interior spokesman has however refuted the claims by Tropical and maintained that the process was fair.

“We don’t understand why they are aggrieved yet the process was open and clear to all bidders. We know that there are some agencies that want to derail us,” said Mwenda Njoka.

KENYA’S NEW DIGITAL DRIVING LICENCES

The government had announced plans for the new digitised plates and driving license in 2013.

The new plates will bear the name of the owner, vehicle registration number and the National flag and will be reflected on the car engine, front and rear and also on the windscreen.

The digital license that will replace the traditional booklet will contain a microchip bearing information such as personal identification number of the owner, contacts traffic offences among others.

Officials will be able to access the information through a smart card reader and drivers caught flouting traffic rules will have points digitally deducted from their smart driving licences and an exhaustion of points will render a card invalid.