NAIROBI, Mar 2 – Kenya will introduce mandatory vehicle inspections starting in July 2026 as part of a broader set of reforms aimed at reducing road accidents and improving traffic enforcement across the country, President William Ruto said on Monday.
The inspections will be implemented alongside the installation of surveillance cameras in major towns to strengthen monitoring of traffic violations and improve compliance with road safety rules. The measures form part of a wider government plan that also includes the introduction of instant fines, a demerit points system for drivers, and the reclassification of minor traffic offences from criminal to administrative violations.
The reforms follow continued pressure on the government to address what officials describe as a national road safety crisis. Figures from the National Transport and Safety Authority show that road accidents kill about 12 people a day on average, with more than 4,000 deaths recorded in 2025. Authorities estimate the economic cost of crashes at up to five percent of gross domestic product annually, reflecting medical expenses, damage to vehicles and infrastructure, and lost labour productivity.
Pedestrians, passengers and motorcycle riders account for the largest share of fatalities, according to official data, as the rapid expansion of the boda boda transport sector has outpaced enforcement capacity. Kenya has more than two million registered motorcycles, many operating in the informal transport market.
Ruto said the government will also introduce defensive driver certification and expand the use of digital systems to limit corruption in traffic enforcement. Authorities plan to formalise motorcycle taxi operators, commonly known as boda boda riders, through savings and credit cooperatives as part of efforts to improve accountability in the sector.
The president spoke after receiving a report on traffic accidents and fatalities from the National Council on the Administration of Justice at State House in Nairobi. He said reducing road deaths will require coordinated action across government institutions as well as cooperation from the public.
