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The Kenyan government is urging the Judiciary to lift a ban on speed cameras and instant fines for speeding motorists. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki emphasized the need for these measures to reduce road fatalities, which have surged recently. The High Court had previously suspended the implementation of these traffic enforcement measures, citing concerns over constitutional rights and judicial,
Africa-Press – Kenya. The government has asked the Judiciary to lift the injunction on the use of speed cameras on major highways and the imposition of instant fines on motorists found exceeding prescribed speed limits.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki made the appeal, urging the courts to support efforts aimed at ending road carnage that claimed nearly 50 lives over the Easter weekend alone.
Speaking on Tuesday during an interdenominational prayer service for 16 people who died in a grisly road crash along the Nyeri–Nyahururu highway near Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kindiki said the government introduced the far-reaching enforcement measures to curb the escalation of road fatalities and improve safety.
“If we reduce speeding on our roads, many accidents will be averted because if you are not speeding, you can control the vehicle as a driver in case of something unusual happening but if you are on high speed, the chances of controlling that vehicle are minimum,” the DP said during the service at the Kabiruini Show Grounds on the outskirts of Nyeri town.
Kindiki said that despite the intended benefits of the new traffic measures, the courts issued an injunction against their implementation a few weeks ago.
On March 12, 2026, the High Court temporarily suspended the National Transport and Safety Authority’s (NTSA) instant fines system following a petition by Sheria Mtaani and lawyer Shadrack Wambui.
The suspension was prompted by concerns that the automated system violated constitutional rights to a fair trial, lacked transparency and imposed penalties without a proper hearing.
The petitioners also argued that NTSA was overstepping its mandate and usurping judicial powers by imposing fines that should be handled by the courts.
The case is scheduled for mention on April 9, 2026, to address compliance of the measures with the law, with the court indicating that the matter could be determined within 90 days if possible.
Last month, the government rolled out a programme to install speed cameras on highways and mandated NTSA, through KCB Bank, to collect fines from motorists captured speeding.
The AI-powered cameras automatically detect speeding and lane violations and instantly send an SMS notification to the registered owner’s phone containing a unique reference number, offence details and a fine amount.
The system can also display a photo showing the specific vehicle involved. Failure to pay the fine within a seven-day window attracts penalties of up to Sh10,000, driver licence suspension or possible jail time.
In the interest of public safety, Kindiki asked the court to lift the suspension in full or allow partial implementation of the measures as litigation continues.
He said the system, if allowed to operate, would eliminate corruption by removing direct contact between motorists and police officers, as all transactions are conducted electronically.
“We are requesting the Judiciary to support the government and the people of Kenya to save lives on our roads. We are requesting the Judiciary to lift the orders which have frozen the use of speed cameras on our highways. The application of instant fines for offensive drivers, we need to operationalise the new law and the new programme on road safety because we are losing so many people on the road,” Kindiki said.
On March 28, a matatu collided head-on with a lorry ferrying firewood near Dedan Kimathi University of Technology along the Nyeri–Nyahururu highway, leaving 16 people dead, 15 of them on the spot. Six others were seriously injured.
Police said the lorry driver swerved to avoid hitting a motorbike rider, causing the vehicle to collide with the matatu, lose control and overturn.
A day earlier, 11 people died, 10 on the spot, in a crash along the Gilgil–Nakuru highway in Nakuru county.
Police said the April 3 accident occurred at around 9:30 pm in the Kariandusi area after a matatu rammed into a stationary truck.
On the same day, Kenya Ports Authority CEO William Ruto and two family members were admitted to a Mombasa hospital following a road crash in Taita Taveta that claimed the life of his daughter.
His vehicle reportedly ploughed into a stationary trailer that lacked signage.
Road safety has been a growing concern in Kenya, particularly with the rise in traffic-related fatalities. The government has been exploring various measures to enhance road safety, including the introduction of speed cameras and instant fines for traffic violations. However, these initiatives have faced legal challenges, leading to a temporary suspension of their implementation by the courts, which raised questions about constitutional rights and the authority of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). The ongoing debate highlights the tension between enforcing traffic laws and protecting individual rights.
