Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination Dennis Itumbi has dismissed claims that money collected through the National Transport and Safety Authority’s (NTSA) new instant traffic fines system was deposited into a private individual’s account, arguing that the viral payment receipt was misrepresented.
The controversy erupted after senior counsel Donald Kipkorir questioned why a traffic fine paid by his brother through a KCB Bank branch appeared to reflect the name “Catherine Jerono Tomno” instead of NTSA, prompting widespread concern on social media and calls for an official explanation.
Responding to the claims, Itumbi said the payment receipt had been selectively cropped to create a misleading impression.
According to the digital strategist, the complete receipt clearly identifies NTSA FINES as the biller, while the name appearing on the transaction belongs to the KCB bank agent who facilitated the payment rather than the recipient of the funds.
He maintained that Catherine Jerono Tomno only processed the transaction on behalf of the bank and did not receive the money, urging Kenyans to verify information before sharing sensational claims.
NTSA fine payment clarified
The explanation aligns with remarks by NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa, who said names of registered bank agents may appear on intermediary transaction records when motorists pay fines through authorised banking channels.
Kondiwa explained that the funds are still deposited into the official NTSA account and not a private account. However, he also disclosed that the authority had launched an investigation into the specific case raised by Kipkorir after it attracted public attention, saying NTSA was working with KCB Bank to establish whether the incident resulted from a system error, fraud or another isolated issue.