NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s public transport sector faces deep structural challenges that cannot be solved by surveillance cameras or automated fines alone, Nashon Kondiwa, Director General of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), has said.
Speaking during an interview on NTV Kenya on Thursday, Kondiwa said the country’s road safety problems stem from systemic issues in the organisation and financing of public transport, requiring long-term reforms, planning and investment.
“This idea of hiring people in the morning and giving them targets is a symptom of a fundamental problem. It’s a fundamental problem of a disorganised public transport system. This is something that the cameras cannot fix. This is something the fines cannot fix,” Kondiwa said.
He explained that NTSA is implementing a “safe systems approach” that combines enforcement, road engineering, and public education to improve road safety while addressing deeper structural weaknesses in the sector.
According to Kondiwa, Kenya’s public transport system suffers from poor organisation, weak investment frameworks, and unstable working conditions for many drivers and transport workers.
He said NTSA is working with operators to develop operational and financial models that can guarantee sustainable business practices while improving the welfare of workers in the industry.
“As a regulatory industry, it is our job to make sure that the people working in that industry have a predictable income, are better employed, they have better working conditions, and finally, the people that we serve have a decent, reliable, and efficient mode of transport,” he said.
The NTSA chief said the safe systems strategy also involves predictable and consistent enforcement of traffic regulations.
Under the framework, speed limits will vary depending on road design, traffic flow, and population density, with maximum speeds ranging from 20 km/h in densely populated zones to 110 km/h on straight dual carriageways.
“Enforcement works if there is certainty. Enforcement works if there is predictability. Enforcement works if it is consistent. The consequences — action versus consequences — must be clearly predictable,” Kondiwa said.
He cited the Nairobi–Thika highway corridor as an example, noting that the maximum speed can reach 110 km/h but gradually reduces depending on road conditions and surrounding settlements.
“From Nairobi to Thika, the maximum you can go is 110, and depending on where you are, it will keep coming down to 100 to 80. The speed signs are there. We are working on replacing ones destroyed by vandalism,” he added.
Kondiwa acknowledged that reforming Kenya’s transport system will be a long-term undertaking that requires sustained policy implementation, infrastructure investment, and improved regulatory oversight.
Meanwhile, the rollout of NTSA’s Instant Traffic Fines Management System has been temporarily halted following a court order.
On March 12, the Milimani High Court issued a conservatory order suspending the system after a petition was filed by Sheria Mtaani and Shadrack Wambui.
The order bars NTSA, the Office of the Attorney General, and other parties, including KCB Bank Kenya, from issuing, demanding, or enforcing automated traffic fines until the case is heard and determined.
The court directed the respondents and interested parties to file their responses by March 20, 2026, while the petitioner may submit a rejoinder by March 27.
The matter will be mentioned on April 9 to confirm compliance and determine whether the case will proceed on an expedited hearing schedule.
