By The Weekly Vision Team
Friday, 11th July 2025, marked a seismic shift within Kenya’s roads sector, as two high-profile Director-Generals, Eng. Philemon Kandie of the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) and Eng. Kung’u Ndung’u of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) abruptly resigned from their positions before the end of their terms.
The twin resignations, which caught many off guard, have ignited intense speculation across social media platforms and within professional circles. Observers are questioning not only the timing but also the motives behind these sudden exits.
Eng. Kandie was the first to resign. His departure was confirmed in a statement by KeRRA Board Chairperson, Anthony Ng’ang’a Mwaura, who announced that Kandie had tendered his resignation on Friday. The Board promptly appointed Eng. Jackson K. Magondu, formerly the Director of Planning, Design, and Environment, as Acting Director-General, with immediate effect.
“The Board of Directors, in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Roads and Transport, wishes to inform that Eng. Jackson K. Magondu has been appointed to the Office of the Director-General in an acting capacity with effect from Friday, 11th July 2025,” the statement read.
Kandie’s exit has raised eyebrows, especially considering that his tenure was not due to expire until 2026. Sources within the sector have hinted at internal pressures that may have influenced his decision, although no official explanation has been offered.
Just hours later, KeNHA followed suit, announcing the resignation of its Director-General, Eng. Kung’u Ndung’u. His term had been set to conclude on 12th April 2027. KeNHA Board Chairperson, Winfrida Ngumi, confirmed the development and named Eng. Luka Kimeli as Acting Director-General, effective the same day. Ndung’u had assumed the post in October 2021, succeeding Peter Mundinia, and previously served as KeNHA’s Director of Road Asset and Corridor Management.
The KeNHA board’s statement offered no insight into the reasons for Ndung’u’s departure. However, the coincidence of both resignations occurring on the same day has intensified speculation over potential political or administrative manoeuvring behind the scenes.
Sources have linked the exits to the recently approved Rironi-Mau Summit Dual Carriageway project, a major Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative sanctioned by the Treasury’s PPP Board just days prior. The high-stakes project, to be executed by Chinese construction giant CRBC in partnership with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), aims to decongest the Nairobi-Nakuru corridor and boost regional commerce.
Insiders speculate that the resignations were orchestrated to clear the way for leadership more aligned with President Ruto’s infrastructure agenda. Critics argue the move could reflect an attempt to install more compliant figures, who may be better positioned to facilitate the interests of influential PPP stakeholders.
Neither KeRRA nor KeNHA has commented on these claims, leaving room for continued conjecture. The exits come at a delicate moment for Kenya’s road infrastructure sector, which has been marred by delays in project execution, allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Both Kandie and Ndung’u were widely regarded as seasoned technocrats, and their abrupt departures have raised concerns over continuity and institutional stability.
Eng. Jackson K. Magondu, now acting DG at KeRRA, brings with him extensive experience in planning and environmental policy. Similarly, Eng. Luka Kimeli is expected to draw on his expertise in road asset management as he takes the helm at KeNHA during this critical period, particularly in overseeing the rollout of the Rironi-Mau Summit project.
As the roads sector transitions under interim leadership, questions persist. Were the two officials forced out, as some sources suggest? Or were their resignations voluntary? And crucially, what do these changes signal for the future of Kenya’s flagship infrastructure projects?
For now, stakeholders await further clarification from KeRRA, KeNHA, and the Ministry of Roads and Transport. What remains certain is that Friday, 11th July 2025, will be remembered as a pivotal moment for Kenya’s infrastructure landscape, one that has left both insiders and the public searching for answers.
