Blow to NTSA as court halts implementation of instant fines systems

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) suffered a setback after the High Court issued orders stopping the implementation of its instant fines system through a private company.

The conservatory order issued by Kerugoya High Court Judge Kizito Magare on Friday May 29, 2026, suspends the implementation of the public private partnership between the Authority and Pesa Print Limited consortium in respect of design, supply, delivery, installation and maintenance of smart driving licenses.

It also stops NTSA’s automate fines system and associated services pending inter partes hearing of the petition filed by the Road Safety Association of Kenya (RSAK).

Justice Kizito gave NTSA 10 days to file submissions ahead of the hearing date which is yet to be fixed.

The road safety association appears as the first petitioner while NTSA is named the respondent with Pesa Print listed as an interested party in the suit.

The court will give further directions on June 21, 2026 regarding the hearing date and any other matters that may come up.

The order came barely three days before NTSA was set to start implementation of the instant fines from June 1, 2026, according to a notice issued earlier.

David Kiarie, the Road Safety Association of Kenya Chairman, says that his team initially supported the introduction of instant fines purely as a safety move aimed at reducing the road carnage.

“However, we later realized that this was a business venture by some individuals out to make money using public institutions and assets,” the official.

Kiarie further divulged that the same private entity was behind an earlier contract of Sh2billion with NTSA to supply smart driving licenses which were never delivered despite the company having been paid in full.

“As road safety players, we have no problem with any moves by government agencies to reduce road accidents and the introduction of instant fines system was welcome at the onset, until we realized corruption had creeped in,” stated Kiarie.

Noting that no public participation exercise was carried out before granting Pesa Print the contract, the official said this violates the law regarding public private partnership deals.

“The private company should have installed its own cameras and other gadgets, but not use those already set up using taxpayers’ money for their business. This goes against the dictates of transparency and accountability,” Kiarie maintained.

He further questioned the intended use of private bank accounts to channel funds raised through the instant fines system which should go to the Judiciary’s accounts.

“This was a great idea to minimize the road carnage but we can only support it if it implemented in the right manner,” said the chairman.