• Kenya to deploy traffic cameras, automated fines to curb accidents
• Road deaths reach 5,009 in 2025, up from 2024
• New rules propose inspections for vehicles older than four years

The Kenyan government is accelerating the rollout of a set of measures aimed at reducing road accidents and fatalities.

The plan includes the short-term deployment of traffic surveillance cameras in at least five major cities and the introduction of an automated system to issue fines for traffic violations. The measures were announced on Monday, March 2, 2026, with the release of an inter-ministerial report on road safety reviewing the current situation and proposing reforms.

Data released by President William Ruto show that Kenya recorded 5,009 road accident deaths last year, an increase of 261 compared with 2024. During the 2025 year-end holiday period alone, 415 deaths were reported, a 23% increase from a year earlier. The economic cost is estimated at nearly 450 billion shillings (about $3.5 billion), equivalent to around 5% of national GDP.

Tighter regulations

The new systems will complement other measures outlined in the national road safety strategy. In July 2025, the government launched public consultations on draft legislation titled “Traffic and Transport Regulations,” aimed at tightening road traffic rules.

Key provisions include mandatory inspections for vehicles more than four years old and the introduction of conditional re-registration for salvaged vehicles following strict technical checks. The draft regulations also propose stricter oversight of private vehicle inspection centers, which would be required to obtain operating licenses and be equipped with safety-compliant equipment such as seat belts, fire extinguishers, and signaling devices.

The main challenge will be ensuring effective enforcement in a context often marked by weak implementation of public policies. The situation in Kenya also highlights the broader issue of road safety in Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the continent accounts for just 3% of the world’s registered vehicles but nearly 20% of global road traffic deaths.

The World Bank says the economic impact is significant. In upper-middle-income countries, road accidents cost about 4.9% of GDP each year. Globally, the cost is estimated at $1.6 trillion, including $98 billion in sub-Saharan Africa.

Henoc Dossa