Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir on July 29, 2026/LEAH MUKANGAI
The government has defended the planned rollout of the Instant Fines System, dismissing concerns that it is designed to raise revenue.
The government has said the initiative is a critical road safety intervention aimed at reducing deaths, improving compliance with traffic laws and eliminating corruption in traffic enforcement.
In a response submitted to the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, Roads Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the proposed system is part of wider reforms under the National Road Safety Action Plan (2024-2028), the Road Safety Investment Plan (2025) and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Strategic Plan.
The ministry said the reforms are aligned with the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritises safer, more efficient and technology-driven transport services.
"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 Chirchir, road crashes continue to exact a huge toll on the country's economy and public health, making stronger enforcement measures necessary.
He cited the Road Safety Investment Plan (2025), which estimates that road traffic crashes cost Kenya approximately Sh1.356 trillion in 2024, equivalent to 8.2 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The ministry further noted that pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists account for nearly 73 per cent of all road fatalities, making them the most vulnerable road users.
"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 added that achieving the national target of reducing road deaths by 50 per cent by 2030 would significantly reduce economic losses while saving thousands of lives.
The CS told MPs that the government has adopted the internationally recognised Safe System Approach, which acknowledges that road deaths and serious injuries are preventable through coordinated measures including safer roads, safer vehicles, safer speeds, improved road user behaviour and stronger enforcement.
He argued that technology-enabled enforcement is one of the most effective ways of addressing dangerous driving habits such as speeding, reckless driving and failure to comply with traffic rules.
The ministry also sought to allay fears that motorists would be denied the right to a fair hearing, saying the proposed framework incorporates safeguards to ensure due process and accountability.
Officials maintained that the system would rely on digital evidence and automated processes to minimise disputes while reducing opportunities for bribery and selective enforcement by traffic officers.
"The reforms seek to modernise enforcement through technology while strengthening regulatory compliance and improving service delivery," the ministry said.
The ministry further defended the proposal as part of Kenya's broader digital transformation agenda, saying the use of technology in transport management has become an international best practice in enhancing road safety.
It said the reforms are expected to improve compliance with traffic laws, enhance transparency in enforcement and promote data-driven decision-making.
The submission also links the initiative to the NTSA Strategic Plan, which prioritises improved institutional capacity, modern enforcement tools and efficient public service delivery.
The ministry said implementation of the instant fines system would complement ongoing efforts to reduce road carnage through better road infrastructure, public awareness campaigns and strengthened post-crash emergency response.
The response comes amid growing public debate over the legality and implementation of the proposed instant fines regime, with critics raising concerns over possible violations of constitutional rights and the need for parliamentary oversight.
The Transport Committee is expected to review the ministry's explanation alongside concerns raised by stakeholders before making recommendations on the proposed framework.
If adopted, the government believes the system will not only improve compliance with traffic regulations but also contribute to the national goal of significantly reducing road deaths while cutting the enormous economic losses caused by 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.
