The government has moved to defend the proposed Instant Fines System, telling Parliament that the plan is a road safety measure aimed at reducing fatal crashes, promoting discipline among motorists and ending corruption in traffic enforcement, dismissing claims that it is intended to generate more revenue.
In its response to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Roads and Transport said the proposed system is one of several reforms being rolled out to strengthen road safety and modernise traffic law enforcement through technology.
Roads Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the initiative is anchored in the National Road Safety Action Plan (2024-2028), the Road Safety Investment Plan (2025) and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Strategic Plan.
He added that the reforms also support the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to improve transport services through greater efficiency, safety and digital solutions.
"The proposed Instant Fines System is not an isolated enforcement initiative, but a key intervention within the Government's broader road safety reform programme," the ministry said in its submission to the committee.
According to the ministry, road crashes continue to cause heavy human and economic losses, making stronger enforcement necessary.
Chirchir cited the Road Safety Investment Plan (2025), which estimates that road crashes cost Kenya about Sh1.356 trillion in 2024, equivalent to 8.2 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He also noted that pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists remain the most affected, accounting for nearly 73 per cent of all road deaths.
"Without additional interventions, road traffic fatalities are projected to increase by 15 per cent by 2030, with crash-related losses rising to 9.3 per cent of GDP," Chirchir said.
He said achieving the country's target of reducing road deaths by 50 per cent before the end of the decade would save thousands of lives while easing the financial burden caused by crashes.
The Cabinet Secretary told lawmakers that Kenya has adopted the internationally recognised Safe System Approach, which is based on the view that road deaths and serious injuries can be prevented through coordinated action.
The approach focuses on safer roads, safer vehicles, safer speeds, responsible road user behaviour and stronger enforcement.
The ministry said technology-based enforcement remains one of the most effective ways of tackling speeding, reckless driving and other traffic offences that continue to contribute to road crashes.
It also dismissed concerns that motorists could be denied justice under the proposed system, saying safeguards have been included to protect due process and accountability.
Officials said digital evidence and automated enforcement will help minimise disputes while reducing opportunities for bribery and selective application of traffic laws.
"The reforms seek to modernise enforcement through technology while strengthening regulatory compliance and improving service delivery," the ministry said.
The ministry said the reforms also fit within Kenya's wider digital transformation agenda and reflect international best practice in transport management.
It added that the system is expected to improve compliance with traffic rules, strengthen transparency in enforcement and support better decision-making through the use of data.
According to the ministry, the proposal also advances the goals set out in the NTSA Strategic Plan, including improving institutional capacity, adopting modern enforcement tools and delivering more efficient public services.
The ministry said the Instant Fines System will complement ongoing efforts to reduce road crashes through better road infrastructure, public education campaigns and stronger emergency response after accidents.
The government's explanation comes as debate continues over the proposed framework, with critics questioning its legality and warning that Parliament should closely examine its impact on constitutional rights.
The National Assembly Transport Committee is expected to consider the ministry's response together with views submitted by stakeholders before making recommendations on the proposed framework.
If approved, the government says the reforms will improve compliance with traffic laws, reduce road deaths and lower the heavy economic losses linked to road crashes.
"The National Road Safety Action Plan identifies technology-enabled enforcement targeting unsafe road user behaviour as one of the priority interventions required to improve compliance with traffic laws and reduce road traffic fatalities," the ministry said.