The Kerugoya High Court has temporarily halted the rollout of the National Transport and Safety Authority’s (NTSA) new-generation smart driving license and automated penalty system.
Justice Dennis Kizito put a stop to the 21-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement between NTSA and Pesa Print Limited until the petition from the Road Safety Association of Kenya is heard and decided.
“The execution of the Public-Private Partnership between NTSA and Pesa Print Limited consortium concerning smart driving licenses, automated penalties and related services has been halted,” ruled the court.
In an order issued on May 29, 2026, the court classified the case as urgent and instructed respondents to submit their replies within 10 days, with the case scheduled for discussion on June 21, 2026.
The suspended project aimed to implement new-generation smart driving licenses and a nationwide automated traffic enforcement system.
Under the agreement, drivers were required to pay Ksh3,050 for the new smart licenses, with Pesa Print responsible for card design and printing, while a local bank handled enrollment and registration.
A key component of the system involved 700 fixed cameras and 300 mobile units positioned along major highways and roads.
The project also planned to implement immediate penalties connected directly to motorists’ driving license profiles, with traffic violators receiving fines via SMS notifications.
The Road Safety Association of Kenya approached the court seeking injunctions to prevent the project’s implementation, which led to the granting of conservatory orders.
In their petition, the association expressed concerns about irregular procurement procedures, stating that the contract was directly awarded despite prior warnings from the Office of the Auditor General.
The petition also claimed that NTSA hurried the implementation without collecting input from transport sector operators.
Furthermore, the association contended that the project lacked proper NTSA board resolutions approving the multi-billion shilling contract.