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Motorists travelling during the festive season are facing immediate penalties as authorities intensify enforcement of traffic laws through mobile courts deployed along major highways.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), in collaboration with the National Police Service and the Judiciary, has rolled out the mobile courts as holiday travel peaks — a period often marked by an increase in road accidents as Kenyans travel upcountry for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
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Traffic offenders are being fined on the spot for various violations, with officials saying the initiative is aimed at curbing dangerous driving habits and enhancing road safety.
The crackdown also coincides with the Cabinet’s approval on December 16 of the rollout of second-generation smart driving licences. The upgraded system introduces instant fines, a mobile licence wallet and a merit-and-demerit points system, significantly changing how traffic offences are enforced and managed.
NTSA said the joint operation seeks to reduce road crashes while creating awareness among motorists about preventable offences such as speeding and drink-driving.
The authority reiterated its commitment to road safety, noting that driving under the influence of alcohol impairs judgement, slows reaction time and compromises vehicle control, particularly during the festive season.
Under the Traffic Act, minor offences are handled in line with Section 117, which allows for instant fines as outlined in the First Schedule. These provisions replaced traffic rules that had been in place since 1975.
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Penalties for minor traffic violations range from Sh500 to Sh10,000 depending on the offence, and apply to all motorised vehicles, including motorcycles.
Offences that attract the maximum fine of Sh10,000 include driving without properly affixed number plates, operating a vehicle without a valid inspection certificate, and exceeding the prescribed speed limit by between 16 and 20 kilometres per hour.
Other violations in this category include obstructing traffic by improperly parking a vehicle, employing unlicensed public service vehicle (PSV) drivers or conductors, and failing to install speed governors in PSVs or commercial vehicles.
A fine of Sh5,000 is imposed for driving on pavements or pedestrian walkways. The same penalty applies to drivers who fail to stop when directed by a uniformed police officer, as well as unqualified drivers operating PSVs.
Several offences carry a Sh3,000 fine, including driving without the correct licence endorsement, ignoring lawful instructions from police officers, failing to observe traffic signs, and neglecting to place reflective warning triangles when a vehicle breaks down.
Additional violations in this bracket include touting, failing to refund fares for incomplete journeys, allowing unauthorised persons to drive vehicles — commonly referred to as “squad” in the matatu industry — using tinted windscreens on PSVs, and picking or dropping passengers at undesignated points.
Lower-level offences attract a Sh1,000 fine. These include boarding or alighting at undesignated places, travelling with part of the body outside a moving vehicle, failing to renew or produce a driving licence when required, and motorcycle riders carrying more than one pillion passenger.
Motorcycle riders and passengers who fail to wear protective gear are each fined Sh1,000.
Using a mobile phone while driving attracts a Sh2,000 penalty, as does failing to carry reflective or warning signs, or PSV crew members failing to wear the required uniform and identification badge.
Pedestrians are also subject to penalties. Anyone who deliberately obstructs the free movement of vehicles risks a Sh500 fine. The same amount applies for failure to wear a seat belt while a vehicle is in motion, or for PSVs that fail to maintain seat belts in a clean and usable condition.
As enforcement tightens nationwide, authorities have urged all road users to observe traffic rules, warning that violations during the festive travel rush will attract swift punishment.
