With the arrival of the high tourist season, traffic on Kenyan roads increases significantly: more hire cars, more motorcycles, more matatus, more checks.

The NTSA (National Transport and Safety Authority), together with the traffic police, applies a well-codified system of fines, which – if ignored or underestimated – can cause considerable problems for residents, expats and visitors.

Knowing the main offences and their costs is not only useful for avoiding penalties, but also for moving around with greater awareness in a country where road safety has become a national priority. In addition, as fines are not paid on the spot or even by post, but by going to the relevant court office, knowing the costs can help you avoid extortion. We have already covered this topic in the past, and we continue to receive reports of Italians being stopped, for example for not wearing a seatbelt, and being asked to pay as much as 10,000 shillings (about £80) when the fine is Kes. 500 (about £3).

It continues to be pointless (as well as childish) to apologise by saying, “But Kenyans don't get stopped for this”. It doesn't work.

Example: you can see as many people as you like on a motorbike (even four, perhaps), but if you get on with two other people, the police are likely to stop you, and it is an offence.

Below is an updated list of the main traffic offences in Kenya and the corresponding fines, as established by the NTSA.

List of main traffic offences and corresponding fines – NTSA

• Use of a mobile phone while driving – Kshs 2,000

(Rule 59A(1))

• Lack of emergency triangles (lifesavers) – Kshs 2,000

(Rule 25)

• Travelling with parts of the body outside the moving vehicle – Kshs 1,000

(Rule 80)

• Failure to produce a driving licence on request – Kshs 1,000

(Section 36(1) and (3))

• Driving on a pavement or pedestrian area – Kshs 5,000

(Section 45A(1) and (2))

• Failure to obey the orders of a uniformed officer – Kshs 3,000

(Section 52(1)(a) and (2))

• Failure to comply with road signs – Kshs 3,000

(Section 52(1)(b) and (2))

• Failure to stop the vehicle when ordered to do so by the police – Kshs 5,000

(Section 52(1)(c) and (2))

• Obstruction of the carriageway – Kshs 10,000

(Section 53(1) and 67)

• Failure to display reflective triangles in the event of a stationary vehicle – Kshs 3,000

(Section 53(3) and (4))

• Motorcycle with more than one passenger – Kshs 1,000

(Section 60(1) and (2))

• Vehicle without a number plate or with an incorrectly fixed number plate – Kshs 10,000

(Section 12(1), 14 – Rule 7)

• Failure to wear a seat belt while driving – Kshs 500

(Section 22A(3) and (4))

• Driving a PSV vehicle by an unauthorised person – Kshs 5,000

(Rule 130C(1) and (3))

• Vehicle without seat belts (owner's responsibility) – Kshs 1,000 per seat

(Rule 22A(1) and (2))

• Seat belts not clean or in usable condition (PSV) – Kshs 500

(Rule 22A(5) and (6))

• Absence of speed limiter on PSVs or commercial vehicles – Kshs 10,000

(Rule 41A)

• PSVs with tinted windows or tinted windscreen – Kshs 2,000

(Rule 54A)

• PSV without a functioning fire extinguisher or fire kit – Kshs 2,000

(Rule 56(1), (2))

• Loading or unloading passengers outside authorised stops (matatu/bus) – Kshs 3,000

(Rule 65(f) and 72)

• Passenger boarding or alighting outside authorised stops – Kshs 1,000

(Regulation 68(1)(x) and 72)

• Failure to refund uncompleted journey (driver's responsibility) – Kshs 5,000

(Section 101(2))

• Illegal solicitation of passengers (touting) – Kshs 3,000

(Section 103(1) and (2))

• PSV driver or conductor without uniform and identification badge – Kshs 2,000

(Section 103A(1) and (7))

• Motorcyclist without helmet or protective gear – Kshs 1,000

(Section 103B(1) and (7))

• Passenger on motorcycle without helmet or protective gear – Kshs 1,000

(Section 103B(1) and (7))

• PSV driver allowing an unauthorised person to drive – Kshs 5,000

(Section 130C(1) and (3))

• Vehicle without a valid inspection certificate – Kshs 10,000

(Section 16(2) and 17A(3))

• Driving without a licence for the class of vehicle – Kshs 7,000

(Section 30(1) and (7))

• Failure to renew driving licence – Kshs 1,000

(Section 30(4) and 41)

• Driving a PSV without qualifications – Kshs 7,000

(Sections 33(c) and 41)

• Driving with a learner's permit without the letter “L” on the front and rear – Kshs 1,000

(Rule 12(1)(b))

• Driving on a pedestrian path – Kshs 5,000

(Sections 90(2)(a) and 94)

• Pedestrian deliberately obstructing traffic – Kshs 500

(Sections 90(2)(c) and 94)

• PSV driven or operated by an unlicensed person – Kshs 5,000

(Sections 98(1) and 104)

• PSV owner or operator employing unauthorised personnel – Kshs 10,000

(Sections 98(1) and 104)

Speeding

• +1–5 km/h → Kshs 500

• +6–10 km/h → Kshs 3,000

• +11–15 km/h → Kshs 6,000

• +16–20 km/h → Kshs 10,000

(Section 42(1))