The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is set to deploy over 1,000 smart traffic cameras across Kenyan highways and accident-prone zones.
In a notice published on Tuesday, February 24, NTSA announced plans to implement of public-privarte-partnership (PPP) for the supply and installation of the cameras, alongside other services aimed at enhancing road safety.
NTSA stated that the supply will include 700 stationary cameras that will be deployed at strategic locations to monitor road activity. In addition, the PPP will deliver 300 mobile speed enforcement cameras, as stated in a public notice on February 24.
To complete the system, the partnership will also deliver a National Command and Control Centre.
The installation of the cameras along major highways and high-risk corridors in Kenya will help NTSA to enforce the automated instant fines, which are also part of the partnership.
According to NTSA, the project will be undertaken in collaboration with KCB Bank Limited and Pesa Print Consortium.
“The NTSA, in collaboration with KCB Bank Limited (“KCB Ltd”) & Pesa-Print Consortium, seeks to implement this project designed as an integrated road safety service under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) incorporating the following services,” the notice read in part.
NTSA will receive instant alerts as the cameras detect traffic offences, which the automatically relayed to the NTSA.
Traffic violations will be linked to the offender driver’s profile under the smart driving licence, making it easy to find the offender driver.
According to NTSA, the project is anchored in the government of Kenya`s socio-economic and digitalization agenda.
“This project is anchored in the Government of Kenya’s socio-economic and digitization development agenda as outlined in the Kenya Vision 2030, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024–2028 on the enforcement of Driver Licensing Standards, and the Medium-Term Plan IV (2023–2027),” the statement stated.
Also Read: NTSA Pursues Nairobi Matatu in Viral Video After Standoff with Pedestrian
NTSA partners with KCB
The Instant Fines System in Kenya, launched by the NTSA under a PPP with KCB Bank Kenya and Pesa Print, automates the detection, issuance, notification, and payment of fines.
Other major components of the partnership include the supply of 5 million secure, five-layer polycarbonate smart driving licenses every three years for 21 years. The partnership will also facilitate the issuance and nationwide delivery of the smart cards.
To ensure the smooth distribution of the cards, the consortium will set up over 102 enrolment centers and deploy more than 392 enrolment kits. In addition, the deal will see the deployment of three production machines capable of producing the smart cards with 24- 48 hour license production timelines.
NTSA said automation will not only help detect traffic rule violations but also reduce avenues for bribery, which has been a bottleneck in the enforcement of traffic rules.
Also Read: NTSA Explains Transfer of Smart Driving License Project from National Bank to KCB
Why NTSA is automating operations
The automation, NTSA adds, will also help reduce road accidents in Kenya and fill the gaps blamed for the increase in road fatalities.
As per the notice, road fatalities increased from 3,875 in 2019 to over 5,100 in 2024. The road safety authority also highlighted the huge social cost in physical disablement of human capital and wreckage of families and communities as another challenge posed by road accidents.
The economic cost of road accidents is estimated at Ksh450 billion in medical care or 5% of Kenya’s GDP.
“Kenya’s road transport and safety record is characterized by high levels of road fatalities, road indiscipline, poor driver licensing systems, and weak enforcement of traffic violations,” noted NTSA.
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