Motorists have received temporary relief after the High Court paused NTSA’s smart driving licence programme and automated traffic fines system while it hears and rules on a constitutional petition challenging the project.
Justice Dennis Kizito issued conservatory orders stopping a 21-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement between NTSA and Pesa Print Limited. The deal aimed to support the rollout of second-generation smart driving licenses and an automated traffic enforcement system.
The court’s decision came after a petition by the Road Safety Association of Kenya (RSAK), which questioned whether the partnership followed the law and the Constitution.
“The implementation of the Public-Private Partnership between NTSA and Pesa Print Limited consortium relating to smart driving licences, automated traffic fines and associated services has been suspended,” the Kerugoya court ruled.
The orders effectively stop the June 1, 2026 rollout of the programme. That rollout would have introduced new smart driving licenses tied to an automated traffic management and enforcement system.
Under the proposed arrangement, motorists would have paid Ksh. 3,050 for the new smart driving licenses. Pesa Print would handle card design and printing, while KCB Bank would run enrollment and registration services.
A major part of the project involves installing 1,000 traffic surveillance cameras nationwide. The plan includes 700 fixed cameras and 300 mobile units to identify traffic violations and support automated enforcement.
The judge declared the matter urgent and ordered the respondents to submit their responses within ten days. The court will mention the case on June 21, 2026.
The petition names NTSA, the Public Private Partnership Committee, the Directorate of Public Private Partnerships, the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, and the Attorney General as respondents. The petition also lists Pesa Print Limited and KCB Bank Kenya Limited as interested parties.
Court documents show that the petitioners challenge how the PPP took shape and how authorities awarded it.
One key concern involves the direct procurement of Pesa Print Limited. The petition says auditors had already flagged this approach in an Auditor General’s report about an earlier smart driving license contract, which allegedly led to losses without delivering the expected licenses.
The conservatory orders will stay in place until the court hears the petition and issues a final decision.
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