By KPC Reporter
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has clarified that motorists issued with instant traffic fines should not make payments through the eCitizen platform.
NTSA urged the public to remain vigilant against fraudsters exploiting the new enforcement system.
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In a statement issued on Wednesday, NTSA said payments for instant fines can only be made physically at Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) branches or KCB agents, describing the process as an additional safeguard against scams targeting motorists.
“Instant fines are not paid through the eCitizen platform,” the authority stated.
NTSA explained that although eCitizen remains the Government’s official payment gateway for most public services and the authority is among its largest users, instant traffic fines are an exception due to the growing threat of fraud.
According to the authority, the decision to require in-person payments at KCB was informed by reports of numerous SMS scams in which fraudsters send fake payment demands and links to unsuspecting motorists.
“Payments for instant fines must be made physically to the NTSA account at KCB branches or KCB agents,” the statement said.
The authority added that requiring motorists to visit a bank introduces “a critical verification layer” that helps prevent social engineering fraud by allowing payments to be verified before money changes hands.
NTSA further said official notifications for instant fines are only sent through its verified short code 22847_NTSA and contain clear details of the traffic offence, the prescribed penalty and payment instructions.
“Members of the public are strongly advised to always verify the source of any notification before making any payment,” the statement added.
The clarification comes amid the rollout of Kenya’s digital traffic enforcement framework, under which motorists committing minor traffic offences may receive instant penalty notices instead of immediately being arraigned in court.
Offences may be detected by traffic police during enforcement operations or through electronic surveillance such as traffic cameras, with notifications delivered physically or electronically.
Motorists may either admit liability and pay the prescribed fine within the stipulated period or contest the offence before a court.
NTSA said the latest clarification is intended to curb misinformation, protect road users from fraud and ensure the smooth implementation of the country’s road safety measures.
