Updated 20 October 2026
Quick answer: NTSA instant fines are not paid on eCitizen or by M-Pesa. You pay them in person into the NTSA account at a KCB branch or KCB agent, using the reference number in the official SMS. Genuine fine notices come only from NTSA’s sender IDs 22847_NTSA or NTSA, and they show your vehicle registration, where and when the offence happened, the offence and the payment reference. Any message asking you to click a link and pay by card or mobile money is a scam.
This guide is based on NTSA’s public notice “NTSA Facts: Payment of Instant Fines” (1 July 2026), NTSA’s replies to motorists on its official X account, and the fine schedule in the Traffic (Minor Offences) Rules (Legal Notice 161 of 2016) published on Kenya Law.
In this guide
How the Instant Fine System Works
Instant fines apply to minor traffic offences listed in the Traffic (Minor Offences) Rules. When an offence is recorded, for example a vehicle caught on camera above the speed limit, NTSA sends an SMS notification to the phone number linked to the vehicle. Motorists who have shared their notices online show that the message names the section of the Traffic Act broken (for speeding, sections 42(1) and 43(1)), the road and time, and a ticket number. In a Citizen TV interview reported by Citizen Digital, NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa said the notification includes a link that gives details of how to pay, and that payment is made only at a KCB branch or a KCB agent.
NTSA says it chose bank payment over eCitizen on purpose. Fake fine messages were already circulating before the system launched, and paying in person at KCB lets the cashier confirm that the reference on your SMS matches the one in the bank’s system before any money moves.
Step by Step: Paying an NTSA Instant Fine
- Check the sender. The SMS must come from 22847_NTSA or NTSA. An SMS from an ordinary 07xx or 01xx number is not from NTSA.
- Check the details. Your vehicle registration number, the place, date and time, the offence and a payment or ticket reference should all be there. If the vehicle is not yours, see the section on disputes below.
- Do not pay through a link. NTSA does not take instant fine payments by card on a website, by M-Pesa to a phone number or by paybill. You can read the notice, but pay only at KCB.
- Go to a KCB branch or KCB agent with the SMS and your ID. Ask to pay an NTSA instant fine.
- Let the cashier verify the reference. The reference on your SMS should appear in KCB’s system with the same amount. If it does not, do not pay; contact NTSA.
- Pay and keep the receipt. Keep the KCB receipt and a screenshot of the SMS together in case the fine still shows as unpaid later.
If you need the nearest KCB branch, our page on KCB contacts and branch details has the bank’s contact details.
Is There a Deadline?
Read the deadline on your own notice. News reports of NTSA’s guidance, including Tuko and Techweez, say motorists have seven days to pay, and that an unpaid fine can attract interest and block you from NTSA services until it is cleared. That matters because NTSA services include licence renewal, inspection booking and vehicle ownership transfer. If you are unsure whether you have an outstanding fine, NTSA’s replies on X direct motorists to email info@ntsa.go.ke for help with fine payments.
How Much Are the Fines?
The amounts are set in the First Schedule of the Traffic (Minor Offences) Rules, 2016, as revised to 31 December 2022 on Kenya Law. They are the maximum penalty for each offence. Common ones:
| Offence | Maximum instant fine (KSh) |
|---|---|
| Exceeding the speed limit by 1 to 5 kph | Warning |
| Exceeding the speed limit by 6 to 10 kph | 500 |
| Exceeding the speed limit by 11 to 15 kph | 3,000 |
| Exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 20 kph | 10,000 |
| Failure to wear a seat belt while the vehicle is moving | 500 |
| Driver using a mobile phone while the vehicle is moving | 2,000 |
| Failure to obey a traffic sign | 3,000 |
| Failure to obey directions of a police officer in uniform | 3,000 |
| Failure to stop when required by a police officer in uniform | 5,000 |
| Failing to carry and produce a driving licence on demand | 1,000 |
| Failure to renew a driving licence | 1,000 |
| Driving without a valid licence endorsement for that class of vehicle | 3,000 |
| Driving without a valid inspection certificate | 10,000 |
| Driving without number plates, or plates not fixed as prescribed | 10,000 |
| Driving on a pavement or pedestrian walkway | 5,000 |
| Driving on a footpath | 5,000 |
| Leaving a vehicle so that it obstructs other traffic | 10,000 |
| No reflective triangles displayed when a vehicle is stuck on the road | 3,000 |
| Vehicle not carrying reflective warning signs (lifesavers) | 2,000 |
| Learner not displaying L plates front and rear | 1,000 |
| Motorcycle carrying more than one pillion passenger | 1,000 |
| Motorcycle rider or passenger without protective gear | 1,000 each |
| Matatu or bus picking or dropping passengers outside a designated stage | 3,000 |
| PSV with tinted windows or windscreen | 3,000 |
| PSV or commercial vehicle without the prescribed speed governor | 10,000 |
| PSV without working fire extinguishers and fire kit | 2,000 |
| PSV driver or conductor not in badge and uniform | 2,000 |
| Touting | 3,000 |
| Pedestrian wilfully obstructing traffic | 500 |
Source: Traffic (Minor Offences) Rules, Legal Notice 161 of 2016, First Schedule (Kenya Law). The Rules also set KSh 1,000 for every seat in a vehicle without a proper seat belt fitted, and KSh 3,000 for a PSV that fails to refund fare for an incomplete journey.
Speeding above 20 kph over the limit is not in the minor offences schedule, so it is not dealt with as an instant fine and can go to court.
How to Spot a Fake NTSA Fine Message
| Genuine NTSA notice | Warning signs of a scam |
|---|---|
| Sent from 22847_NTSA or NTSA | Sent from an ordinary mobile number |
| Shows your actual registration number, location, time and offence | Vague offence, wrong vehicle or no reference number |
| Payment at a KCB branch or KCB agent only | Asks for card details on a website, M-Pesa to a phone number or a paybill |
| Links only to official NTSA sites | Links to look-alike domains |
NTSA’s own scam alerts on X (September 2026) warn motorists not to open links in traffic-offence texts and to verify through ntsa.go.ke or the 22847_NTSA and NTSA sender IDs. NTSA has also published lists of fake social media accounts and phone numbers claiming to offer NTSA services. Report suspicious messages to NTSA through its official channels.
What If You Did Not Commit the Offence?
- Wrong vehicle or number plate: check who owns a vehicle on NTSA to confirm the vehicle is registered to you, and contact NTSA at info@ntsa.go.ke with the SMS, your logbook details and any evidence.
- You sold the car: if the transfer was never completed on NTSA’s system, fines can still reach you as the registered owner. Finish the transfer and keep the sale agreement.
- You want to contest it: the police notification form in the Rules lets a motorist either admit the charge or deny it, in which case the case goes to a traffic court date. The form also says bail in hard cash is not allowed.
Avoiding Fines in the First Place
Most instant fines are for avoidable things: speeding, seat belts, phones, expired documents. Keep your licence current (check your driving licence status on eCitizen), make sure commercial vehicles have a valid inspection certificate (see NTSA inspection fees), and check that your licence covers the class of vehicle you drive using our guide to driving licence categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay an NTSA instant fine on eCitizen?
No. NTSA says instant fines are not paid through eCitizen, even though eCitizen handles most other NTSA payments.
Can I pay an NTSA instant fine with M-Pesa?
No. Payment is made in person into the NTSA account at a KCB branch or KCB agent. Any request to send M-Pesa to a number for a fine is a scam.
Which number sends NTSA fine messages?
The official sender IDs are 22847_NTSA and NTSA.
How much is the fine for overspeeding in Kenya?
A warning for 1 to 5 kph over the limit, KSh 500 for 6 to 10 kph, KSh 3,000 for 11 to 15 kph and KSh 10,000 for 16 to 20 kph over.
What is the fine for not wearing a seat belt?
KSh 500 under the Traffic (Minor Offences) Rules.
Who do I contact about an NTSA fine?
NTSA directs fine payment queries to info@ntsa.go.ke. You can also reach NTSA through its official X account, @ntsa_kenya.
Last checked 19 October 2026.
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