Kenyas roads and transport sector, a vital artery for economic growth and national connectivity, lies in tatters, bled dry by corruption, tribalism, and gross mismanagement. At the helm stands Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, whose leadership has allowed a cesspool of impunity to fester, undermining public trust and costing Kenyan lives. Alongside him, the heads of key parastatals, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Roads Board (KRB), and National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), have turned their institutions into fiefdoms of self-interest.
This article exposes the systemic failures under Chirchir and his parastatal chiefs, demanding their immediate removal and an end to their careers of shame.
Davis Chirchir: A Figurehead Abdicating Power
Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, entrusted with overseeing Kenyas roads and transport, has failed spectacularly. Allegations paint him as a lameduck leader, ceding control to his Chief of Staff, Mr. Mike Kirui, who reportedly wields unchecked authority, making final decisions that should rest with the appointed secretary. Members of Parliament and stakeholders whisper of Kiruis dominance, dubbing him The Total Man and questioning who truly runs the ministry. Is it Chirchir, or an unelected aide acting as a shadow CS? This power vacuum has left the ministry vulnerable to rampant corruption, with contractors allegedly forced to pay millions in cash kickbacks to Kirui to secure payment of pending bills. These illicit demands stall critical infrastructure projects, leaving roads crumbling despite the publics burden of a Road Maintenance Levy Fund, controversially hiked in 2024 against widespread outcry.
Chirchirs defense of dubious dealings, such as those involving controversial entities, suggests either complicity or gross negligence. His failure to address a reported budget shortfall for road maintenance offers no excuse for the rot festering under his watch. Tribalism, favoritism, and impunity flourish, unchecked by a leader who appears impotent in the face of systemic decay. Chirchirs tenure is a betrayal of public trust, rendering him unfit to serve.
The Parastatal Heads: Pillars of Inefficiency and Graft
The decay extends to the heads of parastatals under Chirchirs oversight, each complicit in perpetuating corruption and incompetence. Their names and failures are laid bare:
- Eng. Kungu Ndungu, Director General, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Eng. Kungu Ndungus tenure, which expired on October 8, 2024, continues unlawfully, allegedly propped up by Kiruis protection. This overstay violates governance principles and fuels suspicions of entrenched interests. KeNHA, tasked with maintaining national trunk roads, has failed to deliver, leaving highways in disrepair as maintenance costs spiral. Kungus defiance of term limits is a slap in the face of accountability, marking him as unfit to lead.
- Eng. Silas Kinoti, Director General, Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA)
Eng. Kinoti presides over KURA, an agency meant to develop urban roads, yet projects languish, mired in delays and stalled initiatives. Allegations of kickbacks to secure contractor payments point to systemic corruption, with Nganga either complicit or incapable of rooting out malfeasance. Urban mobility suffers as KURA prioritizes personal gain over public service, rendering Kinoti’s leadership a failure. - Eng. Philemon Kandie, Director General, Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA)
Eng. Kandie’s tenure at KeRRA is tainted by allegations of financial impropriety, with funds meant for rural road development reportedly diverted through kickbacks and favoritism. Kiruis alleged influence shields culprits, while Kandie fails to curb the looting of public resources. His inability to uphold integrity disqualifies him from leading an agency critical to rural connectivity. - Eng. Rashid Mohammed, Executive Director, Kenya Roads Board (KRB)
Eng. Mohammed oversees the Kenya Roads Board, tasked with managing the Road Maintenance Levy Fund, yet allocations are plagued by accusations of favoritism and discrimination against county governments. The boards failure to ensure equitable distribution fuels perceptions of tribalism and entrenches corruption. Mohammeds leadership is a betrayal of KRBs mandate, making him unworthy of his position. - George Njao, Director General, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA)
George Njao, past retirement age, clings to power despite a surge in road accidents claiming countless lives. His focus on statistics over human suffering is callous, with NTSAs enforcement efforts appearing performative and ineffective. Allegations suggest Njaos tenure is sustained by Kirui, with revenue targets in the millions allegedly funneled as inducements to secure his position. Such impunity in an agency meant to protect lives is unforgivable.
A System Rotted by Tribalism and Impunity
The Ministry of Roads and Transport is a hotbed of tribalism and impunity. Directors General reportedly pay weekly tokens to gain favor with Kirui, who allegedly funnels proceeds to higher authorities, though such claims remain unverified. The justice system, meant to hold these leaders accountable, appears compromised, with whispers that parastatal heads can buy their way out of scrutiny. This erodes public confidence and perpetuates a cycle of corruption that stifles Kenyas progress.
KeNHA, KURA, KeRRA, KRB, and NTSA have become enclaves where loyalty to Kirui trumps service to Kenyans. Projects stall, roads deteriorate, and lives are lost, yet those responsible remain in office, shielded by a web of influence and illicit payments. The publics outrage over the road levy hike, ignored during consultations, underscores the ministrys contempt for accountability.
Ending the Reign of Corruption
Davis Chirchir and the heads of KeNHA, KURA, KeRRA, KRB, and NTSA, Eng. Kungu Ndungu, Eng. Philemon Kndie. Eng. Silas Kinoti, Eng. Rashid Mohammed, and George Njao, are unfit to serve. Their leadership has transformed a critical sector into a playground for corruption, tribalism, and incompetence. The Kenyan people demand:
- The immediate removal of Davis Chirchir as Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport for failing to lead and allowing his Chief of Staff to usurp his authority.
- The termination of the tenures of Eng. Kungu Ndungu, Eng. Silas Kinoti, Eng. Philemon K. Kandie, Eng. Rashid Mohammed, and George Njao, whose leadership has perpetuated corruption and inefficiency.
- A comprehensive investigation by the Ethics and AntiCorruption Commission (EACC) into allegations of kickbacks, favoritism, and illicit payments within the ministry and its parastatals.
- An audit of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund to ensure transparency and accountability in its allocation and use.
- The enforcement of retirement and term limits to prevent overstays that undermine governance.
The roads and transport sector cannot thrive under leaders who prioritize personal enrichment over public service. Chirchirs tenure, marred by allegations of corruption from past scandals to present failures, must end. The parastatal heads, complicit in this decay, must face the consequences of their actions. Their careers should serve as a warning: Kenya will no longer tolerate impunity.
The National Assembly and Judiciary must act swiftly to restore integrity to this vital sector. The Kenyan people deserve leaders who serve the nation, not exploit it.
