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Road Safety Association opposes extension of NTSA chief George Njao’s tenure
It claims the Board has already ratified a decision to award the DG a third term, which action will be tantamount to an illegal conduct
The Road Safety Association of Kenya has opposed a move to extend the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director General George Njao’s tenure for another three years.
In a protest letter to the State Corporations Advisory Committee, the Association expresses its objections on the grounds that Njao is serving his second term which expires in October this year and any extension would be unconstitutional.
“We acknowledge that the current NTSA Director General, Mr Njao, has already served his two full terms totaling six years. His first term which expired in October 2022 was arbitrarily extended for another 3 years until October, 2025.”
“He has applied to have his contract extended for a further term of three years despite gross shortcomings and illegal conduct in the said position in utter violation of the Constitution, the Public Officer Ethics Act No. 4 of 2003 and the Leadership and Integrity Act No. 19 of 2012 (Leadership and Integrity Act).
The letter, signed by the Association Chairman David Njoroge, further reads: “We have information from credible sources that the NTSA Board has already ratified a decision to award the DG a third term, which action will be tantamount to an illegal conduct in utter violation of the Constitution, the Public Officer Ethics Act No. 4 of 2003 and the Leadership and Integrity Act No. 19 of 2012.”
The lobby maintains that the rule of law is under threat if the move is effected since all heads of Parastatals and Authorities are limited to two terms.
“The current DG’s term was marred with mismanagement and delinquency that occasioned the deaths of thousands of Kenyans through road carnage which could have been avoided if he offered proper leadership and ensured the authority had working systems,” Kiarie wrote.
He talked of “extreme incompetence” which compelled lobby groups to institute legal proceedings to compel the authority to do its work; pointing out rampant corruption and nepotism which are against the governance principles enshrined in the Constitution, the Leadership and Integrity Act, the Public Officer Ethics Act, and the Mwongozo Code of Governance.
“The Current DG’s tenure has further been clogged with selfish interests which caused him to commandeer an award of the integration process of speed governors to the Authority’s servers to a company with vested interest among its peers in the speed limiters business,
“Given the gravity of this matter, we expect a prompt and decisive response from the Board to uphold institutional integrity and restore public confidence.
While proposing that Njao should proceed on terminal leave to allow a smooth transition, the Association asked the Board to promptly initiate the process of advertising a vacancy in the position of Director General.
“We anticipate a swift and decisive response, coupled with appropriate actions to address these critical issues,” states the letter.
