President William Ruto has signed the Kenya Roads Amendment Bill of 2025 into law.

In a brief ceremony at the State House on Thursday, August 7, 2025, Ruto signed the bill, which proposes that the tenure of the directors-general of the road authorities in Kenya have their service terms cut by two years.

Currently, the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KURA), the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and the Kenya National Highway Authority (KENHA) appoint a Director-General for a term of five years.

Reduction of tenure

However, with the bill signed into law, it amends section 13 of the Kenya Roads Act by changing this term to three years, with the possibility of a single renewal, subject to satisfactory performance. This adjustment is intended to bring the roads sector in line with the standard practice for other state corporations in Kenya.

The bill also includes a transition provision for individuals currently holding the position of Director-General.

According to this provision, an incumbent Director-General will be allowed to serve out the remainder of their unexpired five-year term. If they are in their first term, they will then be eligible for one additional term of one year.

Resignations

The bill’s memorandum of objects and reasons states that the amendment will not occasion any additional public expenditure and does not concern county governments or delegate legislative powers.

This comes just weeks after the director general of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KenHA), Kung’u Ndung’u, and his counterpart at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, Philemon Kandie, resigned from office.

KeNHA board chairperson Winfrida Ngumi equally revealed that Luka Kimeli, who is the director representing the Principal Secretary for Roads, would take over the duties of Ndung’u.

“The Board of Directors, in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Roads and Transport, wishes to inform that Engineer Jackson K. Magondu (Director – Planning, Design and Environment) has been appointed to the Office of the Director General on acting capacity with effect from Friday, 11th July, 2025,” KeRRA said concerning the replacement of Kandie.