New bill targets shorter tenures for chiefs of Kenya's road agencies
However, critics now argue that longer tenures reduce accountability and flexibility.
A new government-backed bill is set to reduce the term lengths for heads of three major road agencies in Kenya, changing a system that has been in place since 2018.
The Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposes to shorten the tenure of directors general at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) from five years to three.
The bill, brought to Parliament by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, aims to align the management of these agencies with the Mwongozo Code of Governance for State Corporations.
"The terms of service for KeNHA, KURA, and KeRRA bosses don’t resonate with the Code of Governance for State Corporations," Ichung’wah said.
Currently, the directors general at the three agencies serve five-year terms, renewable once.
The proposed amendment targets Section 13(3) of the Kenya Roads Act by replacing “five years” with “three years.”
It also allows the current officeholders to complete their existing terms but limits them to a one-year renewal.
"A person who, immediately before the commencement of this Act, held office as director general, shall serve for the unexpired period of his or her term and shall be eligible for appointment for one further term of one year," the bill outlines.
If passed, the new law would have a direct impact on current agency bosses.
KeNHA’s Director General, Eng. Kung’u Ndung’u, appointed in 2021, would have his tenure reduced from a possible 10 years to six. Kura’s Silas Kinoti, whose term began in 2020, and Kerra’s Philemon Kandie, appointed in 2022, would also face shortened timelines and limited extensions.
Ichung’wah argues that the current law undermines accountability and good governance.
"The current provisions of the Kenya Roads Act undoubtedly negate the values of good governance," he said.
"The bill therefore proposes to amend Section 13 of the Act to provide that a director general of each authority shall serve for a period of three years, renewable once.”
The agencies involved play a key role in infrastructure development across Kenya and manage projects worth hundreds of billions of shillings.
Over the years, they have also been seen as politically strategic, especially when it comes to patronage and project allocation.
This proposal comes at a time when President William Ruto’s government is working closely with opposition leader Raila Odinga in a political cooperation deal.
Part of this deal involves reviewing the leadership of various state agencies.
The restructuring in the roads sector may reflect broader political efforts to make room for new appointees.
Initially, the five-year tenure was introduced by former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration through a legal amendment in 2018.
At the time, the change was made to give agency heads more time to oversee complex projects.
However, critics now argue that longer tenures reduce accountability and flexibility.
If adopted, the new law will return the leadership cycle to its earlier three-year structure, creating room for more frequent reviews and performance-based evaluations.