Nairobi, May 11 -- The Treasury has set aside Sh1.1 billion to fast-track the rollout of AI-powered traffic lights and surveillance cameras to cut reliance on police officers at busy junctions in Nairobi, promising relief to motorists frustrated by chronic gridlocks and long commuting hours.

Budget documents tabled in the National Assembly show the State plans to spend Sh1.18 billion in next financial year on the Nairobi Intelligent Transport System (ITS) Phase III, a nearly tenfold jump from the current Sh116.1 million allocation.

The cash will help install intersections with cameras and sensors to make sense of traffic patterns in real time and ease congestion.

With the help of artificial intelligence, the system will count the numbe...