The Kenyan Cabinet has approved the rollout of second-generation smart driving licences. This move aims to update the country’s transport system and make roads safer.
A dispatch from the Cabinet, released on December 15, 2025, said the new licences will come through a public-private partnership, or PPP. Private companies will help handle the issuance and management. This comes after years of delays with the current smart licences, which started back in 2017. By mid-2025, only about 2.1 million had been issued out of a target of five million.
The new cards will have a built-in chip. That chip can store a driver’s personal details, driving history, and even traffic offences. Key features include an instant fines system, where penalties for minor violations get added right away without cash changing hands on the road.
There’s also a mobile licence wallet, so drivers can keep a digital version on their phones. And a merit and demerit points system will track behaviour – good drivers build points, while repeat offenders lose them and risk suspension.
The Cabinet statement put it this way: “Through innovative financing, Cabinet approved the rollout of second-generation smart driving licences under a public–private partnership, integrating smart licences with an instant fines system, mobile licence wallet and driver merit and demerit points to enhance road safety and modernise licensing.”
Officials hope the PPP will speed things up. The National Transport and Safety Authority, or NTSA, has faced bottlenecks, like piles of unprinted cards. Shifting to private partners should fix that and bring in better tech.
This approval ties into broader road safety efforts. Just a month earlier, in November 2025, NTSA announced plans to retest drivers flagged for bad habits.
The Intelligent Road Safety Management System, known as IRSMS, monitors public service vehicles and commercial trucks. It tracks speed, sudden braking, route deviations, and risky moves like overtaking. When it spots problems, it sends alerts in real time.
NTSA Acting Director General Angela Wanjira said on November 16 that flagged drivers would face mandatory retests. Some could lose their licences if they fail. She called it important for safety, especially with the festive season coming and more people travelling.
The IRSMS, launched in 2023, has already flagged thousands of vehicles. NTSA uses it for inspections, retraining, and even suspensions.
NTSA officers during a road safety operation. Joint checks with police are common to enforce rules.
Linking the new smart licences to systems like instant fines and demerit points should make enforcement easier. Drivers won’t be able to ignore violations as much. Digital records will help track everything accurately.
For everyday motorists, this could mean fewer fake licences on the road and quicker processes. No more long waits or excuses about forgetting the physical card, thanks to the mobile wallet.
Road accidents remain a big issue in Kenya, with thousands killed each year. These changes are part of a push to cut that down. The government wants to align with global standards, where digital tools help manage traffic better.
Details on when the rollout starts or how to apply aren’t out yet. But the Cabinet’s green light is a step forward after slow progress on the first smart licences.
Many drivers have stuck with older booklets or temporary prints. The second-generation version promises to fix those gaps and add tools for safer driving overall.
