In mid-2026, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) moved to automate traffic law enforcement by introducing an instant fine system and speed cameras across major Kenyan highways. The system was part of a broader Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the Pesa Print Limited consortium, which also included the rollout of smart driving licenses.
However, the initiative immediately faced fierce pushback from motorists and road safety advocates. Critics argued that the sudden, drastic speed-limit drops (from 100 km/h to 50 km/h) on major highways were poorly designed, turning speed cameras into revenue-generating “traps” rather than safety measures. This culminated in a legal challenge filed by the Road Safety Association of Kenya, leading to a High Court freeze on the program just days before its official June 1, 2026 launch.
The Road Safety Association of Kenya has urged motorists nationwide to boycott the instant fines being imposed by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) for speeding, declaring the penalties illegal and in open defiance of the law.
Speaking to journalists, the association’s Chairman, David Kiarie, revealed that the fines directly violate a conservatory order issued by the Kerugoya High Court on May 29, 2026. The court order had halted the implementation of NTSA’s automated fine system.
In response to NTSA’s continued enforcement, Kiarie announced that the lobby group is launching contempt of court proceedings against the authority. Furthermore, the association is demanding the immediate removal of all newly installed speed cameras and a full refund for motorists who have already paid the illicit fines.
“We are asking anyone who has already paid these automated fines to contact our offices immediately and provide their payment details so we can include them in our legal claim for refunds,” Kiarie stated.
The legal dispute stems from a petition filed by the Road Safety Association, where NTSA is named as the respondent and Pesa Print Limited is listed as an interested party.
The ruling, delivered by High Court Judge Dennis Kizito Magare, suspended the multi-million shilling Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between NTSA and the Pesa Print Limited consortium. The frozen tender covered the design, supply, installation, and maintenance of smart driving licenses, alongside the automated fining infrastructure.
Justice Magare’s order stopped the system dead in its tracks just three days before its scheduled June 1, 2026 rollout, pending an inter-partes hearing. NTSA was granted 10 days to file its submissions, though a definitive hearing date has yet to be scheduled.
Beyond the legal technicalities, the association’s leadership raised serious alarms over how the automated enforcement is being executed on the ground. Association Secretary General John Mutisya criticized the positioning of cameras on major routes, including the Thika Superhighway, the Nairobi Expressway, and the Southern Bypass.
The officials argued that the current setup functions primarily as a financial trap rather than a safety measure. They pointed out that forcing motorists to abruptly drop their speed from 100 km/h to 50 km/h on high-speed highways is highly impractical and actively triggers rear-end collisions.
“The requirement to suddenly slash your speed in half on a major highway is unreasonable and dangerous. Instead of managing traffic flow safely, these poorly placed cameras are compromising road safety and causing accidents,” Mutisya warned
