NTSA Clarifies Instant Fines Must Be Paid at KCB, Not eCitizen
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has advised that instant traffic fines cannot be paid via eCitizen, and motorists should pay in person at Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) branches or...
CN Quick Facts
- Instant fines are NOT paid through eCitizen, despite NTSA being one of the platform’s largest government users
- Payments must be made physically at NTSA’s account at KCB branches or KCB agents
- The requirement is meant to add a verification layer against SMS scams targeting motorists with fake fine payment demands
- Genuine instant fine notifications are sent only from NTSA’s official short code, 22847_NTSA, and include the offence, penalty, and payment instructions
- The advisory follows a case NTSA is investigating, where a motorist’s payment notification appeared to direct funds to a private account
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has issued a fact-check advisory clarifying that instant traffic fines cannot be paid through eCitizen, urging motorists to make payments only in person at Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) branches or agents.
What's in this Article
NTSA Clarifies Instant Fines Must Be Paid at KCB, Not eCitizen: What Motorists Should Know
NTSA has moved to address growing confusion, and reports of fraud, around how motorists are expected to settle instant traffic fines, issuing a public fact-check on 1 July 2026.
Why can’t I pay instant fines through eCitizen?
NTSA says the decision to exclude instant fines from eCitizen was deliberate, not a reflection of the platform’s security. Director-General Nashon Kondiwa explained that eCitizen payments are typically made through M-Pesa or card, without any in-person interaction, which he said makes it easier for fraudsters to send convincing fake payment demands. Requiring motorists to pay physically at a KCB branch or agent adds a verification step, since a genuine reference number will show up in the bank’s system before any payment is made.
The clarification follows an incident Kondiwa addressed on Citizen TV on 30 June 2026, involving a motorist who received a payment notification that appeared to direct funds to a private account rather than an NTSA account. Kondiwa said he became aware of the case the day before, contacted KCB directly, and asked for a full investigation, describing it as the only such case he had seen.
How do I safely pay an instant fine?
Genuine notifications come only from NTSA’s official short code, 22847_NTSA, and include the vehicle registration number, the location and nature of the offence, and payment instructions. Motorists should verify the source of any notification before paying, and complete payment only in person at a KCB branch or through a KCB agent, into NTSA’s account.
Key Details
- Payment channel: KCB branches or KCB agents only, in person
- Not accepted via: eCitizen (despite eCitizen remaining the general government payment gateway)
- Official notification source: Short code 22847_NTSA
- Reason given: Prevent SMS-based social engineering scams targeting motorists
- Under investigation: A case where a payment notification appeared to reference a private account, raised by a motorist and confirmed by NTSA’s Director-General
- Advisory issued: 1 July 2026
What’s Next?
NTSA says KCB’s investigation into the private-account case is ongoing, with a full report expected. CarNews KE will update this article once NTSA or KCB confirms the outcome, and will continue to flag any further scam patterns targeting motorists.
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