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Prevention of road accidents.
Investigation of road accidents and maintenance of data.
Provision of free flow of traffic along the roads/escorts of VIPs.
Enforcement of bill traffic laws and regulations
Apprehension/prosecution of traffic offenders.
Creation of road safety awareness to the public through the media, lectures in schools/institutions and public places.
Collection of accident statistics/data including research/planning countrywide.
Offering information concerning traffic matters to the press/media and the public in general.
Enforce the axle – load regulations in conjunction with Ministry of Public Works at the weighbridges
Carrying out Annual inspections of all Public service vehicles, commercial and private vehicles prior to licensing or registration.
Inspection and certification of road worthiness of vehicles on the road
Inspection of accident vehicles to ascertain/determine the pre accident defects.
Testing of drivers and issuances of certificate of competence.
Monitoring the movement of Government vehicles.
Recruitment, training and deployment of Traffic Police officers.
Any other traffic matters as may be directed from time to time

(i) Government Vehicles Check Unit
(ii) Driving Test Unit
(iii) Highway Patrol Unit
(iv) Axle – Load Enforcement Unit
(v) Motor Vehicle Inspection Branch
(vi) Road Safety Section
(vii) Traffic training Centre

The first Traffic section was established in 1954 at Police Headquarters in Nairobi. Its mandate was to monitor and maintain records of Traffic related cases. Due to the increase in vehicular traffic, in 1960 Nairobi Area Traffic Branch was formed under Mr. J. W. Newman ASP. As the Traffic operations continued to expand countrywide, Mr. Shashi Kantbhai Raval SSP was appointed the Staff Officer Traffic Operations at Police Headquarters in 1968 to oversee Traffic matters in the country.

After the appointment of Staff officer traffic, training of Traffic officers ensued followed by posting of traffic officers to Machakos, Kiambu, Nyeri and Nakuru Divisions under their respective OCPDs. In 1973 Highway Traffic Operations was created and its headquarters located to the current Traffic Department Headquarters (former G S U Camp) in Ruaraka. Mr. S. K. Raval ACP was appointed the first Commandant and the same year additional Traffic Patrol Bases were established in Makindu, Naivasha, Kisumu, Eldoret, Mombasa, Voi and Nairobi. Base Commanders directly under the Commandant were posted to head the bases for effective traffic management. Mariakani and Athi River Weighbridges became operational in 1976 and 1979 respectively. Thereafter more bases were opened in other districts along the Highway. In 1985 Highway Traffic operations changed its title to Police Traffic Department. In 2003 Traffic Department was restructured and all the bases countrywide were handed over to respective Provincial Police Officers for both administrative and operational management. The Commandant Traffic Department was however mandated to manage the following;
- Government Vehicles Check Unit
- Driving Test Unit
- Motor Vehicle Inspection Branch
- Road safety section

In the year 2005, the Commissioner of Police made another reorganization and established Highway Patrol Unit under the Traffic Department. The role of the unit is to curb highway robbery and to enforce traffic rules along the main highways countrywide.

The Department has had ten Commandants since its inauguration as follows;
- Mr. S. K. Raval S/ACP from 1973 to 1984
- Mr. J. K. Kimutai DCP “ 1984 “ 1995
- Mr. H. I. Dzombo DCP “ Mar 1995 “ Aug 1995
- Mr. E. K. Lagat S/ACP “ Aug 1995 “ Dec 1995
- Mr. G. M. Mwathe DCP “ Dec 1995 “ Jun 1996
- Mr. J. M. K. Matagaro DCP “ Aug 1996 “ Feb 1997
- Mr. P. F. Abong’o DCP “ Feb 1997 “ Feb 1999
- Mr. S. A. Angote DCP “ Mar 1999 “ Jul 2000
- Mrs. M. M. Mwangangi DCP “ Jul 2000 “ 2003
- Mr. Daudi Kyalo S/ACP “ 2004 “ May 2008