NTSA Traffic Fine Row Puts City Lawyer Kipkorir In Defamation Dispute
According to the letter, one Roderick Barmasai visited KCB Freedom Heights on June 29 after receiving an NTSA traffic ticket. The lawyers say he withdrew money from M-Pesa through Ms Tomno’s KCB agency before the traffic fine was processed through the official KCB banking system.
By Our Correspondent
A traffic fine payment controversy has escalated into a possible defamation dispute after a KCB banking agent accused Donald B Kipkorir of exposing her to public suspicion through an allegedly misleading X post.
Through Limo & Njoroge Advocates, Ms Catherine Cherono Tomno has demanded that Mr Kipkorir pull down the post, issue a public apology and compensate her, saying the publication wrongly linked her to alleged irregular handling of government traffic fine payments.
The demand letter, dated June 30, 2026, says Mr Kipkorir published the post on his verified X account after his brother allegedly paid an NTSA traffic fine and received a payment confirmation bearing the name Catherine Jerono Tomno.
“My kid-bro received a text message purportedly from NTSA-Kenya for overspeeding… As a dutiful citizen, he paid the fine to the account at @KCBInKenya given by NTSA. The account is in the name of Catherine Jerono Tomno. The law does not allow Government institutions to open bank accounts in the names of individuals. Is NTSA exempt?” the post is quoted as saying in the letter.
The lawyers argue that ordinary readers understood the post to suggest that Ms Tomno was operating an illegal account, receiving government revenue fraudulently, colluding with NTSA officers or engaging in corruption and criminal conduct.
They deny the allegations, saying Ms Tomno is a licensed and duly authorised KCB Bank agent operating at KCB Freedom Heights on Lang’ata Road, where she offers agency banking services through official channels.
According to the letter, one Roderick Barmasai visited KCB Freedom Heights on June 29 after receiving an NTSA traffic ticket. The lawyers say he withdrew money from M-Pesa through Ms Tomno’s KCB agency before the traffic fine was processed through the official KCB banking system.
The letter says the appearance of Ms Tomno’s name on the confirmation message reflected her registered agency account, not evidence that she personally received government revenue or operated an NTSA account.
The dispute comes amid public concern over NTSA’s instant traffic fine system, after Mr Kipkorir’s post sparked debate on whether payments were being properly routed to government accounts. Tuko reported that the lawyer had questioned why the payment confirmation appeared to bear an individual’s name rather than that of NTSA or another government entity.
NTSA Director-General Nahashon Kondiwa has since said the authority is investigating the case with KCB, describing it as the only such complaint he had seen at the time.
“There is a mistake that was made there. We are still investigating. I only became aware of this yesterday, and I immediately contacted KCB and asked them to investigate and provide a full report because this is the only case I have seen where someone receives a message indicating they deposited money into a private account,” Kondiwa said.
He also said many motorists had paid instant traffic fines without receiving similar confirmations, adding that the probe would establish whether the case involved a system error, fraud or another isolated issue.
The demand letter says the publication damaged Ms Tomno’s reputation, disrupted her business and led to calls and messages from family members, customers, friends and business associates questioning her integrity.
Her lawyers have given Mr Kipkorir three hours from receipt of the letter to remove the post and any reposts under his control, publish an apology and retraction, acknowledge that Ms Tomno acted as an authorised KCB agent, and undertake not to repeat similar claims.
They have threatened to file a defamation suit seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages, injunctions, a court-approved apology, interest and costs if the demands are not met.
The NTSA instant fines system has also faced broader public scrutiny. Earlier this month, NTSA said the system remains operational despite court proceedings affecting the Public-Private Partnership component of the programme, with minor traffic offences still being enforced through existing automated systems and police notices.
Under the framework, motorists accused of minor traffic offences may receive notices through digital channels and pay prescribed fines without going through lengthy court processes, according to NTSA.
About The Author
