Mombasa County has installed smart CCTV systems with facial and number plate recognition to boost enforcement, Governor Abdulswamad Nassir says.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Regional Highway Safety Investors Conference, 2026 in Mombasa, the Governor highlighted broader plans for integrated infrastructure, including roadside stations and smart monitoring.
He said the initiatives will improve road safety, trade efficiency and economic growth across Kenya’s transport network.
The governor said the project is already in its first phase, with installations largely complete.
“Mombasa County Government has invested, using our own resources, we invested smart CCTVs across Mombasa, as we speak right now, we have already installed, and we are in the process of finalising the first phase of these CCTVs,” he said.
He noted that the initial objective was to improve compliance with county regulations, particularly around parking fees and minor offences.
“The initial idea was for us to be able to nab those people who are not paying our parking fees and those people who break all these other rules,” he said.
However, the system has since evolved into a broader surveillance and enforcement tool, incorporating advanced technologies such as facial and number plate recognition.
“We have the infrastructure ready, which will have capacity for both facial and number plate recognition,” Nassir said.
He added that the system would enable authorities to track patterns of behaviour among offenders.
“And what that means is we will be able to now know a person who has been able to break law. We can reverse back and know what their trend has been, what way that they've been able to use,” he said.
The governor acknowledged concerns around privacy and legal frameworks, noting that the project includes safeguards.
“Issues to do with data protection as well, is part and parcel of that project that comes hand in hand together,” he said.
Nassir also signalled plans for closer collaboration between county and national agencies, particularly in road maintenance and service delivery.
“There’s a lot of replication, and we will be coming with a proposal, maybe allow us to be your handyman on the ground as a county government,” he said, referring to transport CS Davis Chirchir.
He suggested a performance-based model where counties would undertake maintenance roles and be compensated based on delivery outcomes.
“You just pay us based on the performance that we are able to do, you create a performance index, and we can be able to do what needs to be done,” he said.
At the same conference, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir also outlined broader national plans to transform the transport sector through integrated infrastructure.
“The development of roadside stations presents a transformative opportunity for our transport ecosystem,” he said.
Chirchir described roadside stations as more than rest stops, highlighting their role in safety and logistics.
“Roadside stations are not merely truck stop or rest points. They are Integrated Corridor support facilities designed to deliver multiple outcomes,” he said.
He noted that such facilities would enhance road safety by reducing fatigue among drivers and improving welfare.
“They enhance road safety by reducing driver fatigues, improving driver welfare and cargo security by offering secured parking, sanitation, accommodation and surveillance,” he said.
The CS added that the initiative would also strengthen trade efficiency and stimulate economic growth.
“Strengthen trade efficiency by improving logistics coordination and reducing delays, stimulate regional economic growth through job creation and local enterprise development,” he said.