NTSA to roll out new technology to monitor speed and curb road fatalities

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is planning to roll out advanced technology aimed at identifying and documenting cases of speeding through the use of camera systems.

According to the agency, it has been piloting stationary speed cameras over the past six months on specific roads in Nairobi, including the Thika Superhighway, Mombasa Road, and the Southern Bypass.

NTSA Director General George Njau informed Parliament that, in addition to the fixed cameras, they have also been trialing mobile speed monitoring devices on various roads across the country since November 2024.

The Authority is now seeking funding to fully implement the camera-based speed monitoring system as part of efforts to curb overspeeding and reduce road fatalities.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the agency has gathered sufficient data during the pilot phase and is ready to scale up the initiative.

"We are moving into the next phase of institutionalising the system, which will involve both fixed and mobile speed cameras," he stated.

Recent statistics from NTSA reveal that, on average, 12 people died daily in road crashes during the 2024/25 financial year.

Between June 2024 and March 2025, there were 3,581 recorded deaths—a 10 percent increase compared to the previous financial year.

In the same period, 8,874 individuals sustained serious injuries while 5,620 suffered minor ones as a result of road accidents.

Nairobi registered the highest number of road deaths nationwide between January and March 2025, with 138 fatalities.

The majority of these incidents occurred along major roads, including Thika Superhighway, Mombasa Road, Outer Ring Road, and Langata Road.

Key contributors to these deadly crashes included hit-and-run incidents, tyre bursts, loss of vehicle or motorcycle control, reckless overtaking, and poor lane discipline, often leading to head-on collisions.