NTSA Explains Why Instant Traffic Fines Will Be Paid At KCB, Not eCitizen
News Updated: 01 July 2026 15:48 EAT
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The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has explained why motorists issued with instant traffic fines will be required to make payments physically at designated Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) branches or KCB agents instead of using the government's eCitizen platform.
NTSA Director General Eng. Nashon Kondiwa said the move is intended to protect motorists from social engineering fraud, where scammers manipulate victims into making payments through fake messages and fraudulent digital channels. He noted that although NTSA is among the largest users of the eCitizen platform, the authority deliberately adopted a different payment model for instant fines due to security concerns.
According to Kondiwa, the authority conducted a comprehensive assessment of the instant fines system before its rollout and identified social engineering as one of the biggest risks facing motorists. The physical payment requirement was therefore introduced to provide an additional layer of verification before any transaction is completed.
Under the new system, motorists who receive an official instant fine notification must visit a KCB branch or an authorised KCB agent to complete payment. Bank officials will verify the payment reference issued by NTSA before processing the transaction, reducing the risk of fraudulent payments.
The authority said official instant fine notifications are sent only through the verified NTSA short code 22847_NTSA. Genuine messages include the vehicle registration number, the location where the traffic offence was committed, details of the offence, the amount payable and instructions on how the fine should be settled.
NTSA warned motorists to ignore payment requests from unknown numbers or suspicious SMS messages claiming they have been fined. The authority urged road users to verify any notification before making payments and report suspected fraud attempts to the relevant authorities.
The instant fines system forms part of broader road safety reforms aimed at improving enforcement of traffic laws while reducing the need for court appearances for minor traffic offences. However, NTSA maintains that the physical KCB payment model is necessary to safeguard motorists against the growing threat of digital fraud and social engineering scams.
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FELIX MAKONA
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