NAIROBI, Kenya — William Ruto has directed the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Ministry of Transport to roll out smart traffic cameras in all major cities within one month, linking them to an instant fines enforcement system.
Speaking during a Monday morning brief at State House, Nairobi, the President publicly questioned Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and newly appointed NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa over what he described as years of delay.
“We have taken forever, the Ministry of Transport. Why don’t we enforce the instant fines programme? Why haven’t we rolled out the cameras on our roads?” Ruto posed, expressing frustration over stalled implementation.
After a brief exchange with CS Chirchir, the President issued a firm timeline.
“Rolling out cameras is not rocket science. Let us roll out the cameras in the five or six major towns within one month. Those cameras should be connected to the whole framework of instant fines,” he directed.
Investor-Backed Rollout
Chirchir backed the one-month timeline, stating that the project would proceed under an investor-supported model. The system is expected to automate traffic enforcement by capturing violations in real time and issuing fines digitally, reducing direct interaction between motorists and traffic police.
The move marks a renewed push to operationalise a long-discussed instant fines framework aimed at curbing speeding, red-light violations, and other traffic offences.
Kenya has previously announced similar initiatives, but implementation has faced procurement disputes, legal hurdles, and resistance from sections of the transport sector.
Integrity Concerns in Traffic Enforcement
During the same briefing, President Ruto criticised corruption within the traffic department, arguing that it has eroded public confidence and undermined road safety.
He said automated enforcement would help seal loopholes that allow bribery and selective application of traffic laws.
The National Transport and Safety Authority operates under the NTSA Act, which mandates it to plan, manage, and regulate road transport systems and promote road safety.
Transport stakeholders have previously raised concerns about due process, system accuracy, and the potential burden on motorists if errors occur in automated ticketing.
If implemented within the President’s one-month deadline, the rollout would signal one of the fastest deployments of traffic surveillance infrastructure in Kenya’s urban centres.
The directive also places the Ministry of Transport and NTSA leadership under immediate performance pressure, with public scrutiny likely to intensify as the deadline approaches.
For motorists, the shift could usher in a new era of technology-driven enforcement — one that promises greater accountability but demands robust oversight to avoid replicating past administrative failures.
