A pilot initiative by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) aimed at curbing reckless driving and enhancing road safety through strategically placed cameras along major highways has shown good results, promting the agency to consider a nationwide rollout.

Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Transport, NTSA Director General George Njao reported that the six-month trial has successfully captured accurate data on motorists’ speeds and traffic violations. 

Mr Njao urged the lawmakers to support the project’s full implementation by allocating the necessary budgetary resources.

NTSA's pilot phase saw the authority place cameras on strategic locations along major highways, including Thika Superhighway, Southern Bypass, and Mombasa Road.

Accoring to the authority, the second phase of the project will focus on rolling out an additional 408 enrollment kits to update driver information. NTSA said these kits will be helpful to Kenyans living and working in the diaspora, who often face challenges renewing their licenses remotely.

“We’ve completed the six-month test, and the data is now accurately captured,” Njao said. “The next step is to deploy the enrollment kits nationwide. However, we currently lack the budgetary allocation to expand the program across the entire country.”

According to the Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir the traffic monitoring digital system has the potential to identify and penalize traffic offenders in real time, fostering better road discipline.

“We've collected enough data and should be going into the second phase of institutionalizing and procuring some of these cameras, both fixed and mobile,” the CS noted.

How the NTSA camera system works

The system captures a motorist’s speed and other infractions along monitored highways and posts instant notifications—such as e-tickets—on the mobile devices of violators. This real-time feedback mechanism aims to deter speeding and other dangerous driving habits.

Members of Parliament lauded the Ministry of Transport for adopting cutting-edge solutions to address road safety challenges. The digital camera project aligns with global best practices and underscores Kenya’s commitment to reducing road accidents through technology.

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