President William Ruto has ordered the immediate rollout of traffic cameras in five to six major towns across Kenya within one month, linking them to the instant fines framework to automatically penalize offenders without the need for court appearances.
Speaking at State House in Nairobi on Monday, when he received the National Council on Administration of Justice Report, President Ruto emphasized that the initiative will reduce corruption, streamline enforcement, and allow the judiciary to focus on serious cases.
“The cameras will provide full proof evidence that offenders are in breach, and we do not need to argue with them or drag them to court. The fine will be predetermined and appear on your phone instantly,” President Ruto said, highlighting the efficiency of the system.
He added that the measure is part of a broader push for digitized traffic management, noting that “the cameras will do the job of the traffic policeman and also do the job of the judiciary instantly.”
The move comes amid rising road fatalities, which remain a “matter of grave national concern,” with over 5,000 deaths reported in 2025 alone, an increase of 261 from 2024.
Road accidents continue to cost Kenya an estimated 5% of its GDP, translating to around Sh450 billion annually, according to President Ruto.
He acknowledged that, while previous interventions have yielded some results—such as a 10% reduction in fatalities involving public service vehicles during the 2025 festive season—emerging risks, including accidents involving private vehicles and night-time crashes, demand urgent action.
The president further emphasized the importance of administrative measures, noting that “some traffic offenses need to be moved to the realm of administrative interventions. It is easier to pay a bribe than wait in court, so we must make it much more painful to breach the law than to obey it.”
He also urged swift implementation of vehicle inspections through a public-private partnership framework, adding that “by the first of July, there will be a place for every motor vehicle to be inspected… this will reduce the problem we have here by 70%.”
President Ruto called for an integrated digital platform linking all relevant agencies to improve transparency, reduce corruption, and ensure real-time monitoring of traffic offenses.
He stressed that the combination of instant fines, camera enforcement, and streamlined vehicle inspections will create a safer and more accountable road transport system, marking a decisive step in Kenya’s national road safety reforms.
“With the cameras in place and instant fines implemented, we solve multiple challenges at once,” President Ruto concluded, urging authorities to act swiftly to protect lives and improve compliance on Kenyan roads.
