NTSA Rolls Out Instant Traffic Fines, Deploys Cameras to Curb Road Deaths
NTSA Director General addressing the press in Nairobi on March 10, 2026
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced the immediate rollout of an instant traffic fine system supported by automated cameras in a new push to curb road crashes and enforce traffic laws across the country.
Speaking to the press in Nairobi on Tuesday, NTSA Director General Nashon Odhiambo said the new enforcement system is designed to shift the national conversation on road safety from statistics to practical solutions.
The announcement comes amid growing concern over road fatalities, including a recent accident in Webuye that claimed more than 10 lives.
“We just lost over 10 people in Webuye and we condole with the families affected,” Odhiambo said. “For too long the conversation about road safety in this country has been one of grim statistics, numbers that represent fathers, mothers, breadwinners and children who never made it home.”
Under the new system, traffic violations will attract instant electronic fines issued through digital devices and linked directly to motorists’ records.
Odhiambo said the move is aimed at restoring integrity in traffic enforcement while eliminating corruption and negotiation between motorists and officers.
“The instant fine system is not about revenue collection. It is about restoring the integrity of our enforcement mechanism,” he said.
The Director General noted that enforcement has historically been the weakest link in road safety management, but the new technology-driven approach is expected to introduce certainty and deterrence.
“There has been too much negotiation around traffic violations. When offences become negotiable, the standard of enforcement becomes too low,” he said.
The system will rely on automated speed cameras, high-resolution CCTV surveillance and automatic number plate recognition technology to detect violations such as speeding.
According to Odhiambo, motorists who commit offences will receive electronic evidence including images captured by cameras, after which fines can be paid directly to the government through mobile money platforms.
The authority is also using data generated from traffic violations, vehicle inspections and crash reports to identify high-risk sections of roads commonly known as black spots.
“These cameras are not placed randomly. They are installed based on the risk level of specific road sections where accidents frequently occur,” Odhiambo said.
Beyond enforcement, NTSA says the technology will help the authority adopt a data-driven approach to predicting and preventing accidents.
Odhiambo emphasized that the initiative is meant to change driver behavior rather than punish motorists, urging that the main objective will be to protect and not punish drivers. He added that the laws should not be seen as obstacles but as life-saving protocols.
He urged drivers to take personal responsibility and called on the public and the media to support the authority’s road safety efforts.
“To those who have made a habit of breaking traffic laws, the era of impunity is over. NTSA is watching and the cameras are ready,” he said.
