Kenyan motorists will now receive traffic violation alerts directly on their phones after the country activated a new digital enforcement system aimed at improving road discipline.
The National Transport and Safety Authority announced on Monday, March 9, that its Instant Fines Traffic Management System is now operational. The system automatically sends SMS notifications to drivers immediately after a traffic offence is detected.
According to the authority, motorists who violate traffic rules will receive a message detailing the offence and the penalty issued. Drivers will then be required to settle the fine within seven days of receiving the notification.
Failure to clear the fine within the stipulated period will attract additional interest charges. Offenders who delay payment will also be blocked from accessing services on NTSA’s digital platforms until the penalties are settled.
NTSA urged motorists to strictly adhere to traffic regulations and to respond quickly to any official alerts issued through the system.
The new enforcement framework relies on more than 1,000 smart cameras installed along major roads. The cameras are capable of identifying at least 37 different traffic violations in real time.
Among the offences captured by the technology are speeding, improper lane usage, driving on pedestrian walkways, and failure to wear seatbelts. Penalties for these violations range from KSh500 to KSh10,000 depending on the seriousness of the offence.
The rollout follows a directive by William Ruto, who recently ordered the rapid deployment of smart surveillance cameras across major urban centres to accelerate enforcement of the instant fines programme.
Speaking during a meeting of the National Council on the Administration of Justice at State House Nairobi, the president criticised delays in implementing the system and instructed authorities to ensure the cameras are operational in major towns within a month.
Meanwhile, Davis Chirchir assured that the project would be completed within the given timeline through an investor-backed implementation plan.