25/08/2025
In Kenya, when you spot a diplomatic vehicle with a red plate like the one below: 123 CD 1K, many people don’t realize what it truly signifies. Here's the breakdown:
123. The number 123 identifies the UAE, according to the order in which countries recognized Kenya’s independence. In this case, UAE was the 123rd country to recognize Kenya's independence. In Kenya 01 belongs to Germany. It was the first country to rush to recognize Kenya as independence in 12th December 1963.
CD stands for Corps Diplomatique, indicating it’s a diplomatic (embassy) vehicle .
1K is a serial used to distinguish the particular vehicle within that embassy.
So a vehicle labeled 123 CD 1K is the UAE Embassy’s diplomatic car number 1 in Kenya. Traditionally used by the Ambassador or High CoCommissioner. While 2K,3K etc etc are used by his or her juniors.
If the Embassy has more cars, they'll be labelled 2K, 3K, 4K etc etc.
