Kenya is set to introduce instant fines for traffic violations as part of a wider government plan to curb the rising number of road accidents.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said on Thursday that the new system will rely on cameras at major junctions to automatically detect offenders and issue fines. The CS noted that the move aims to reduce reckless driving, ease congestion in courts, and promote safer road use.
“We are in the final stages, and the Cabinet will issue a memo. We are bringing together the police, judiciary and NTSA as the enforcers. We already have the building blocks of the proposal, which will also determine how the instant fines collected will be shared,” Chirchir said during the official opening of the National Road Safety Conference in Mombasa.
According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), 3,397 lives have been lost in crashes between January and September 2025—an average of 12 deaths daily. This marks an increase of 28 deaths compared to the same period in 2024. Pedestrians remain the most vulnerable group, accounting for 1,285 fatalities, followed by motorcyclists, passengers and drivers.
The government is also finalizing the Traffic (Drink Driving) Regulations, 2025, which target motorists driving under the influence of alcohol, one of the leading causes of night-time accidents.
Chirchir added that the government is complementing the reforms with major infrastructure projects, including expansion of the Rironi-Mau Summit highway, dualling of the Kwa Jomvu-Mariakani road, and safety upgrades at notorious blackspots such as Ngata Bridge in Nakuru and Bonje in Kilifi.
In Nairobi, 13 new pedestrian footbridges are being built along the BRT corridor on Outer Ring Road to improve pedestrian safety.
Police, judiciary, and NTSA officials will jointly enforce the new measures once Cabinet approval is secured.
