President William Ruto has issued a firm 30-day ultimatum to the Ministry of Transport and the NTSA to fully operationalize a nationwide instant traffic fine system and smart road cameras.Â
The directive, announced on Monday, March 2, 2026, during a meeting with the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), includes several key measures:Â
Smart cameras must be installed in at least five to six major towns within one month.
The system will automatically detect violations and send “painful to pay” fines directly to the offender’s phone via SMS, eliminating the need for court appearances for minor offences.
A network of 1,000 cameras (700 fixed and 300 mobile units) will be linked to a National Command and Control Centre and integrated with the Second-Generation Smart Driving Licenses.
The President backed a demerit point system where repeat offenders face increasingly higher fines or license suspension.
By digitizing enforcement, the government aims to seal bribery loopholes that reportedly cost the exchequer billions annually.
In a related move, Ruto ordered the fast-tracking of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework for motor vehicle inspection, with a full rollout expected by July 1, 2026.
By Anthony Solly
