The Kenyan government has taken a decisive step to modernize its national driving license system by transferring the rollout of the second-generation smart driving license to private companies. Approved during a recent Cabinet meeting, the public-private partnership (PPP) effectively removes the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) from managing the program after years of missed targets, operational delays, and inefficiencies.
Launched in 2017 with the intention of issuing five million cards, the smart license effort has fallen short of expectations. Only 2.1 million licenses had been issued eight years later, and NTSA only printed 342,492 cards in the year that ended in June 2025. That’s nearly 15% less than its goal of 400,000.
Systemic problems were also brought to light in an Auditor General report, which noted that 572,674 unprinted cards valued at KES 176 million were still in NTSA stores without a defined deployment strategy. Furthermore, under the initial agreement with the National Bank of Kenya (now owned by Access Bank), more than four million blank cards were sent, but they were mostly unused.
NTSA officials have attributed the slow uptake to motorists’ preference for yearly electronic licenses over the three-year smart cards. However, the government’s decision to hand over the program to private investors suggests that the challenges go beyond customer choice, reflecting deeper structural and operational bottlenecks that have hindered the initiative for years.
The new, privately managed smart driving license system is designed to be more efficient and technologically advanced. The second-generation cards will integrate several key features, including an instant fines system that automatically records penalties when traffic offenses occur, a mobile license wallet that allows drivers to carry and present credentials digitally, and a merit and demerit points system to track driver behavior. Repeat offenders could face license suspension, while compliant drivers accumulate positive points, incentivizing safe driving.
These chip-based cards will store personal information, traffic offense records, fines, and digital signatures. The system is expected to enable real-time license verification, automated fine issuance, and continuous monitoring of driver behavior, ensuring both accountability and convenience for motorists.
Government officials hope that private sector involvement will address the operational shortcomings that have plagued NTSA’s management, accelerate the issuance of licenses, and ensure a more reliable service for Kenyan motorists. By leveraging technology and expertise from private investors, the initiative aims to deliver secure, efficient, and user-friendly driving credentials nationwide.
For the millions of drivers still waiting for their smart licenses, the move to privatize operations could bring long-overdue improvements. While NTSA struggled with targets, storage inefficiencies, and deployment delays, private companies are expected to streamline processes and enhance delivery, providing a more dependable solution.
As Kenya embarks on this new chapter in road transport management, the success of the smart driving license program will depend on how effectively private partners can execute where NTSA fell short. If managed well, the initiative promises to transform driver licensing in the country, combining advanced technology, efficiency, and accountability to meet the needs of modern motorists.
The transition also signals a broader trend in public service modernization, demonstrating how public-private partnerships can be used to improve complex government systems and enhance service delivery. For citizens, this is more than a technical upgrade; it is a step toward safer roads, faster service, and a digitally empowered licensing system.
