Two top engineers in the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, and Public Works are among the candidates shortlisted for the vacant Director General (DG) Position in KeNHA.
Engineer Francis Gitau, the Infrastructure Secretary, and Engineer David Njenga, the Nairobi Metropolitan Secretary are among 15 candidates who applied for the position of DG to succeed Engineer Peter Mundinia who has since retired.
Also on the list is the Kenya Ports Authority General Manager Engineer Sidai, KeNHA has the Acting DG Engineer David Muchilwa, Engineer Kungu Ndungu, Engineer Charles Obuon, and Engineer James Gatitu.
Others are Engineer Tom Waiharo, Engineer Dr. Aketch, and KURA GM Abdulrashid Mohamed.
The 10 shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by a reputable Consultant and the Board in the next two weeks.
It is expected that the new DG will assume office in the month of October this year. This is important to ensure continuity of the many flagship projects that the Authority is currently charged with.
KeNHA Boards’ have over the years enhanced their reputation for sound succession management.
The first DG Engineer Meshack Kidenda laid the foundation for the biggest road agency in East and Central Africa. He was hired by the then board Chaired by Advocate Hannah Muriithi.
Engineer Mundinia was hired during the tenure of Engineer Erastus Mwongera. The new DG will be hired under the tenure of Engineer Ndirangu Wangai who is the current Board Chairman.
The board will nominate three names to CS James Macharia for vetting and gazettement.
KeNHA has been allocated a budget of Sh. 180 billion this financial year and is expected that this will increase in the following years.
Among the achievements of Engineer Kidenda was the construction of the eight-lane Thika Road, the Athi River to Namanga Road and Isiolo to Merille Road.
Engineer Mundinia will be remembered for enhancing Road maintenance and protection, the Completion of Nairobi Southern Bypass Road, the ongoing Western Bypass and Nairobi Expressway under PPP, the Mombasa Port Area Improvement projects, the Likoni Floating Bridge, Garsen-Witu-Lamu, the Kitui-Kibwezi Highway and Mau Mau Roads among others.
The intray of the new DG is full of pending bills as the government races against time to complete projects and spur economic growth.
Engineer Gitau is a seasoned Engineer and a former representative of the Ministry of Infrastructure in the KeNHA Board.
He is also the Acting Director General of Nairobi Area Metropolitan Transport Authority (NAMATA).
Engineer Muchilwa has overseen the Special Projects Directorate for the last six years.
Engineer Dr. Aketch is an experienced private sector Highways Engineer and a lecturer at the University of Nairobi.
Engineer Ndung’u is the Director of Road Asset Management and a no nonsense public officer.
He was the Engineer who delivered the Dongo Kundu Project, the Mwache Bridge accross the Indian Ocean to Kwale and the Kitui – Kibwezi project ahead of schedule and negotiated with affected landowners to allow the project to continue despite compensation delays.
Engineer Obuon is credited with spearheading the construction of Mombasa – Kwa Jomvu projects financed by African Development Bank.
Engineer Gatitu is in-charge Policy, Strategy and compliance at KeNHA.
Engineer Sidai has been overseeing the dredging of the port of Mombasa and Lamu.
Engineer Tom Waiharo is a consultant who has specialized in construction materials.
Engineer Abdulrashid has changed the face of Upper Hill roads and is respected by his peers.
The Board has a big task ahead of them to determine who takes over the mantle of this important Authority of the National Government.
