Over 5,000 Killed on Roads: Ruto Directs Immediate Rollout of Traffic Cameras

President William Ruto has ordered the immediate installation of road surveillance cameras in six major towns within one month, directing the National Transport and Safety Authority and the Ministry of Roads and Transport to act without delay.

The directive follows new figures showing that more than 5,000 people have died on Kenyan roads in 2025, an increase from the previous year. Speaking at State House during a meeting of the National Council on the Administration of Justice, the President questioned the slow pace of reforms, particularly the delayed introduction of instant fines and digital enforcement systems.

“Why have we taken forever? Why have we not rolled out the cameras on our roads?” he asked, seeking a clear timeline from Roads Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir. 

Chirchir said the installation would be completed within a month, a deadline the President said must be met. Road accidents are estimated to cost the country about Sh450 billion each year, roughly five percent of GDP. During the 2025 festive season alone, 415 people were killed, a 23 percent rise compared with the same period the previous year. 

The President said weak enforcement, corruption, unroadworthy vehicles and poor coordination between agencies continue to hinder progress. Pilot programmes under the National Council on the Administration of Justice, bringing together prosecutors, police and anti-corruption officers, have led to a 10 percent reduction in fatalities involving public service vehicles. 

However, the President warned that other risks, including private car crashes, night-time lorry accidents and incidents involving boda boda riders, require urgent action. He outlined a series of measures, including the introduction of instant fines, a demerit points system for drivers, standardised training and greater digital integration across enforcement platforms. Additional steps include body-worn cameras for police officers and stricter vetting procedures.

The President said automated fines would reduce direct contact between motorists and officers and ease pressure on the courts by allowing magistrates to focus on serious offences. Under the proposed system, drivers who commit traffic offences would receive fines directly on their phones.