Fight for control of roads billions behind KeNHA –KeRRA leadership purge

A high voltage vicious fight for the control of billions of shillings allocated for road projects and questionable loyalty have been cited as key reasons behind the boardroom coup that resulted in Friday’s leadership purge at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), The Informer Media Group has established.

At the same time, despite the double dismissal of immediate former KeNHA Director General Engineer Kung’u Ndung’u and his KERRA counterpart Philemon Kandie, both of their half-way tenures have been dogged with controversies in equal measure.

The duo, alongside the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) Director General Silas Kinoti, who is still in office amid earlier reports he had also quit, survived multiple purges initiated by the President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration upon assuming power in 2022 that targeted incumbents of key dockets appointed during the tenure of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.

On Friday last week, July 11, 2025, in a rare coincidence, both KeNHA and KeRRA Boards of Directors announced twin resignations of Kung’u and Kandie respectively.

“They didn’t resign; they were forced out,” an insider intimated.

On his part, Kandie said he would continue on leave beginning today, July 14, 2025.

Effectively, their exit has thrust Kenya’s road sector into confusion after the twin resignations of the bosses of key agencies even as the National Treasury abandoned plans for construction the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway.

Earlier, there was also speculation that KURA DG Kinoti had also proceeded on terminal leave but KURA clarified that the Director General is still in office.

Kandie’s exit means he leaves nearly two years before the end of his contract that would have ended on April 12, 2027.

Kandie was controversially appointed on April 13, 2022.

KeRRA board chairman Anthony Mwaura, formerly board chairman of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) said insider Jackson Magondu had been appointed acting boss as Kandie serves his three-month notice until October 10, 2025 when he formally exits.

“The Authority wishes to inform the general public of the resignation of Philemon Kandie as the Director General of Kenya Rural Roads Authority, effective 11th July, 2025,” Mwaura said in a statement.

Before his appointment in an acting capacity, Magondu served as the Director Planning, Design and Environment.

KeNHA board chaired by Winfrida Ngumi named Luka Kimeli, currently serving as the Director representing the Roads Principal Secretary at KeNHA as the Acting Director-General.

“The Board of Directors announces the acceptance of the resignation of Kungu Ndungu as Director General of the Kenya National Highways Authority, effective July 11, 2025,” KeNHA board chairman Ngumi said in a memo to staff.

Outgoing KeNHA boss Kung’u was appointed Director-General in October 2021, succeeding Peter Mundinia.

His first three-year term at the helm ended October 2024 and his contract was renewed for another three years.

Kung’u’s departure from KeNHA was preceded by the rejection of feasibility study by the firm planning to build the Sh468billion Expressway between Nairobi and Mombasa by the National Treasury a fortnight ago.

At the same time, there has been a spirited push to disband KURA and KeRRA, with arguments that their mandate ended at the onset of devolution with the constitution recognising national and county road networks.

The push has been more pronounced in the fight by counties to get a bigger share of funds collected from motorists through the Road Maintenance Levy as well as differentiation between county and rural roads, the latter managed by KeRRA.

The other major project that is expected to adopt a similar PPP model but has faced challenges is the Rironi-Mau Summit. During the Jubilee administration, a French consortium, Rift Valley Highway Ltd, had been awarded the 30 year deal to upgrade the road into a four lane highway then operate and maintain for 30 years, during which it would charge road toll to recover its investments while ploughing some of the money to maintenance of the road.

The contract was, however, cancelled by Kenya Kwanza.

This was, however, costly for the taxpayer as the government had to pay Sh6.2billion to the consortium for cancelling the contract.

KeNHA is currently reviewing Privately Initiated Proposals (PIPs) by a consortium of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and Kenya’s National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and another by Shandong Hi Speed Road & Bridge International Engineering Co. Ltd.

Kung’u’s and Kandie’s claimed resignations have elicited suspicions amid demands for clear explanation surrounding their twin exits.

The Motorists Association has since demanded for a clear and transparent explanation regarding said resignations.

In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, July 12,2025 the motorists called on Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir to explain the main reason behind the simultaneous resignation of the two officials.

According to the Association, the departure of two Director Generals on the same day was not only unusual but also suggested coordinated action behind the scenes.

While demanding a response from the CS, the motorists described Ndung’u and Kandie’s resignations as “deeply concerning” and “sudden,” adding that their departure raised more questions than answers.

“These resignations raise more questions than answers. Is this a case of voluntary exit, or a quiet purge disguised as resignations?” the motorists questioned.

“Such developments, especially involving senior public officials overseeing critical agencies in our road sector, cannot go unexplained,” they added.

The Association noted that it is their constitutional right to know why the two officials resigned, whether it was a genuine resignation or a silent dismissal.

The duo resigned last Friday within similar timelines, sparking wild reactions from Kenyans who demanded to know why the two high-profile officials departed.