Kenya: NTSA Seeks to Retain Sh3bn for Road Safety Programmes

What the report says

Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority has asked a parliamentary transport committee to allow it to keep Sh3 billion from its own-source revenue to pay for road safety work. The request was made in Nairobi, according to Capital FM’s report carried by AllAfrica, during a session with the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure.

NTSA Director General Nahashon Kodhiwa said the agency needs more financial flexibility to expand enforcement, public education and data systems intended to reduce road crashes. He said the authority collects about Sh9 billion to Sh10 billion a year, but only a small share is available to it for operations. The funds it wants to retain would go toward compliance checks, digital number plates, improvements to the TIMS system and safety campaigns.

Committee chairman George Kariuki indicated support for greater autonomy for NTSA, saying the money should help save lives. Other lawmakers urged the agency to work more closely with road bodies such as KeNHA and KURA to identify hazardous roads and improve coordination.

The discussion also touched on regulation of boda boda and matatu sectors, with MPs calling for clearer policy, wider NTSA presence and better safety measures. As a general matter, Kenya has long struggled with road deaths and transport sector compliance, making funding and enforcement capacity a recurring policy issue.