Nairobi — The Automobile Association of Kenya (AA Kenya) has rolled out an International Driving Permit, which will allow Kenyan drivers to legally operate vehicles in over 150 countries without having to take local driving tests.

The rollout is in response to a troubling surge in international incidents where Kenyan motorists have faced legal action and severe reprimands from foreign authorities for possessing counterfeit driving permits.

"In recent years, several Kenyans have been arrested abroad for possessing fake IDPs, which International police treats as forgery," said Francis Theuri, CEO, AA Kenya.

"The IDP we are issuing is tamper proof, it has very good security features and is digital, meaning the Interpol are able to verify online, without having to call us directly," he added.

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The IDP, designed with the support of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), AA Dubai, and the United Kingdom, acts as an official translation of a valid Kenyan driving licence into multiple international languages.

This will make it easier for motorists travelling for work, studies, business, or leisure to rent vehicles from international car rental agencies. Meanwhile, insurance companies abroad can use the IDP to validate coverage for foreign drivers.

With the government's encouragement for more Kenyans to travel and work abroad, the IDP will also create new opportunities for Kenyans, especially the youth, to secure jobs that involve a lot of driving.

"This product underscores AA Kenya's commitment to supporting drivers as they transition from local mobility to global access," said Theuri.

"Through quality driver training and internationally compliant certification, we continue to empower motorists to showcase Kenyan driving competence on the world stage," he added.