NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has clarified that Kenya’s instant traffic fines system remains fully operational despite court orders suspending the planned expansion of traffic enforcement cameras under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The clarification follows growing public confusion over the status of the enforcement programme after legal challenges were filed against aspects of its implementation.
NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa said the court orders only affect the proposed rollout of additional cameras under the PPP framework and do not suspend the Minor Traffic Offences Rules that underpin the instant fines system.
“We have orders from the Kiambu Law Courts directing us to keep records of payments and another order suspending the implementation of the PPP component,” Kondiwa said.
Existing Enforcement Framework Remains Active
Kondiwa emphasized that the public-private partnership project and the Minor Traffic Offences Rules are separate legal and operational frameworks.
“It is important to note the difference between PPP implementation and the Minor Traffic Offences Rules implementation. They are not the same. No one has suspended the rules,” he said.
As a result, motorists can still receive instant fines through cameras already installed by the Kenya National Highways Authority and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, as well as through manual enforcement by traffic police officers and existing digital monitoring systems.
The authority said all penalties issued under the current system remain valid while the court case proceeds.
How the Instant Fines System Works
The instant fines regime was introduced to improve compliance with traffic laws by allowing motorists accused of minor offences to pay prescribed penalties without undergoing lengthy court proceedings.
Under the framework, automated cameras, police officers, and digital enforcement tools detect violations such as speeding, lane indiscipline, and failure to obey traffic signals.
Once an offence is confirmed, the registered vehicle owner or driver receives a notification detailing the nature, location, and time of the violation, together with the applicable penalty.
Motorists are required to settle the fines within a specified period. Failure to do so may result in prosecution or restrictions on access to certain NTSA services.
Court Case Continues
Kondiwa said the matter remains before the courts and is expected to come up for directions on June 21.
“The courts instructed NTSA to proceed but keep the payment records,” he said.
The legal challenge has focused on concerns raised by some motorists and civil society groups regarding the implementation and administration of the instant fines system.
Revenue Collection Not NTSA’s Objective
The NTSA chief rejected claims that the programme was designed as a revenue-generation mechanism for the authority.
“These are Exchequer revenues, not NTSA revenue. NTSA’s focus and mandate are road safety. The National Treasury would be better placed to provide revenue projections,” he said.
He noted that the court orders have interrupted plans to install 1,000 additional enforcement cameras within two years through the PPP arrangement.
“Any existing schedule will have to be adjusted until the court process is complete,” he added.
Government Pushes Stronger Road Safety Measures
Despite the legal challenges, the government has maintained support for the instant fines programme as part of broader efforts to reduce road carnage.
President William Ruto recently endorsed stricter enforcement measures, directing the rollout of what he described as “painful to pay” traffic fines.
The President argued that corruption and delays in the judicial process have weakened enforcement, allowing some motorists to evade accountability through bribery.
NTSA is meanwhile proceeding with plans to integrate enforcement systems operated by KeNHA, KURA, and the National Police Service into a unified platform within the next six months, a move expected to strengthen automated traffic monitoring and improve compliance with road safety regulations.
The authority maintains that the objective of the instant fines system is to enhance accountability, improve adherence to traffic laws, and ultimately reduce the number of deaths and injuries on Kenyan roads.
