Kenya Launches Nationwide Smart Camera System with Instant Mobile Fines
Nairobi, 2 March 2026
Kenya has deployed 1,000 high-definition cameras across major highways that automatically issue fines via SMS, ranging from £12 for mobile phone use to £65 for speeding violations. The system integrates with new smart driving licences and processes payments through mobile money, eliminating traditional police stops for minor infractions.
Presidential Directive Accelerates Smart Traffic Implementation
President William Ruto issued a direct order on Monday, 2 March 2026, instructing the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Ministry of Transport to implement smart traffic camera systems with instant fines across major cities [1]. The President expressed frustration with delays in the programme, questioning why enforcement mechanisms had not been deployed earlier. ‘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 stated during the announcement [1]. The President set an ambitious one-month deadline for camera installation and integration into the instant fines framework, emphasising that ‘rolling out cameras is not rocket science’ and calling for deployment in ‘the five or six major towns within one month’ [1].
Comprehensive Camera Network Now Operational
The Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS) commenced its nationwide rollout following a formal announcement on 24 February 2026, just one week before the President’s directive [2]. The automated enforcement framework utilises 1,000 high-definition smart cameras, comprising 700 fixed units and 300 mobile units strategically positioned to monitor major highways including the Thika Superhighway, Mombasa Road, and the Southern Bypass [2]. The system represents a significant technological advancement in Kenya’s transport infrastructure, moving away from traditional physical police stops toward an automated, 24-hour surveillance model that operates continuously across the country’s road network [3].
Five Key Offences Trigger Instant Digital Penalties
The smart camera system targets five specific traffic violations with predetermined fine amounts issued automatically via SMS [3]. Exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 20 kilometres per hour for the relevant vehicle type results in the highest instant fine of 10,000 Kenyan shillings [3]. Road obstruction violations carry an identical penalty of 10,000 shillings, whilst driving on pedestrian walkways incurs a 5,000-shilling fine [3]. Mobile phone usage whilst driving, including texting or calling without a hands-free kit, attracts a 2,000-shilling penalty, and illegal public service vehicle boarding and alighting results in a 3,000-shilling fine for drivers [3]. These automated penalties eliminate the traditional process of physical stops and court appearances for minor infractions.
Integration with Smart Driving Licences and Digital Payment Systems
The ITMS integrates seamlessly with Kenya’s Second-Generation Smart Driving Licence (e-DL) to create a comprehensive digital enforcement ecosystem [2]. Violations are captured in real-time and cross-referenced with the national vehicle registry, with automatic updates applied to motorists’ NTSA portal accounts [2]. Payment processing occurs through multiple digital channels, including mobile money services, USSD codes, and traditional banking channels, removing the requirement for physical police interactions or court appearances for minor infractions [2]. The system’s efficiency extends beyond mere enforcement, as President Ruto advocated for broader administrative reforms, supporting the movement of some traffic offences from courts to administrative processes based on Chief Justice Martha Koome’s recommendations [1]. This approach addresses systemic issues where minor penalty delays discourage compliance, with Ruto noting that spending ‘a whole day in a courtroom waiting to pay 1,000 shillings’ creates enforcement challenges [1].