The days of handing a folded KSh 50 note to a traffic police officer at a roadblock could soon be over. Following a surge in fatal road crashes that has claimed nearly 300 lives in January 2026 alone, MPs and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) are pushing for the immediate rollout of a digital instant fine system. The goal is clear: remove the human element from traffic enforcement and cut off the oxygen of corruption that fuels road carnage.

The push comes as the NTSA suspends licences for several Saccos, including Guardian Coach and Greenline, following a series of horrific accidents. But suspensions are a reactive measure. The real game-changer, according to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, is technology. The proposed system would see traffic cameras and automated devices issue fines directly to the offender’s phone, payable via M-Pesa, eliminating the roadside "negotiations" that allow unroadworthy vehicles to remain on the tarmac.

"No More Cash, No More Talk"

"We cannot police our way out of this crisis with the current manual system," said a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport. "Every time an officer stops a bus, there is an opportunity for a bribe. With digital fines, the camera does not eat lunch. It just records the offence."

The system, which has been in the pipeline for years, is now being fast-tracked. Fines collected from traffic offences jumped 64% to KSh 434 million in 2024, proving that enforcement is happening, but the carnage continues. The missing link is consistency and integrity.

• How It Works: Speed cameras and handheld devices used by officers will capture the violation. A notification is sent to the registered owner's phone with a payment link. Failure to pay leads to the vehicle being blacklisted and the driver's licence suspended.
• The Sacco Backlash: Matatu owners are wary. They argue that without proper infrastructure and clear signage, the system will be used to fleece operators. "Fix the roads first before you start fining us for hitting potholes," said a Matatu Owners Association representative.
• The NTSA Crackdown: In the interim, the NTSA has intensified its physical crackdown. 263 vehicles belonging to a suspended Sacco were recently reinstated, but 128 remain grounded. The message is being sent: compliance is cheaper than non-compliance.

A Culture Change

The digital fine system is not just about revenue; it is about changing the Kenyan driving culture. If drivers know that Big Brother is watching and that a bribe cannot save them, behavior will shift. Currently, impunity rules the road because the cost of breaking the law is merely the cost of a bribe.

As the death toll rises, the patience of the public is wearing thin. The digital fines system offers a glimmer of hope for safer roads, but only if the technology works and the "men in blue" are ready to let go of their most lucrative revenue stream.