KeNHA Appoints Eng. Luka Kipchumba Kimeli as New Director General

The Kenya National Highways Authority has appointed Eng. Luka Kipchumba Kimeli as its new Director General following the retirement of the previous office holder.

The appointment, effective February 16, 2026, was announced by the Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar after approval by the Public Service Commission. Eng. Kimeli, a civil engineer with over 25 years of experience in road infrastructure development, most recently served as Director of Roads at KeNHA where he oversaw major highway projects including the Nairobi–Mombasa Expressway phases and the ongoing dualling of the Nairobi–Thika Road.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen welcomed the appointment, describing Kimeli as a seasoned professional with a proven track record. “Eng. Kimeli brings deep technical expertise and strong leadership to KeNHA at a critical time when we are accelerating the delivery of transformative road corridors,” Murkomen said. “His appointment will ensure continuity and faster execution of flagship projects under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.”

In a separate announcement, the Kenya Roads Board has appointed Judith Otsyula as its new Director General. Otsyula, previously the Director of Planning and Coordination at the Board, takes over after the end of the previous DG’s term. She has extensive experience in road financing, public-private partnerships and policy formulation, having played a key role in the development of the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund and the management of the Fuel Levy disbursement framework.

Kenya Roads Board Chairperson Eng. Peter Mundinia said Otsyula’s appointment would strengthen the Board’s oversight role. “Judith has been instrumental in improving revenue collection efficiency and ensuring equitable distribution of road maintenance funds to counties and agencies,” Mundinia said. “Her leadership will be vital as we implement reforms to make Kenya’s road network more sustainable and resilient.”

The dual appointments come as Kenya intensifies efforts to modernise its road infrastructure under the current administration’s priority on connectivity, trade facilitation and economic growth. KeNHA is currently managing over 11,000 km of classified roads, including major corridors such as the Mombasa–Malaba highway, the Nairobi–Namanga road and the ongoing Thika–Nyeri–Marua dualling.

Eng. Kimeli said he is focused on accelerating project delivery while improving safety and sustainability. “My priority is to ensure all ongoing projects are completed on time and within budget,” Kimeli said. “We will also strengthen maintenance regimes, enhance road safety through engineering interventions and integrate climate-resilient designs in new constructions.”

Otsyula emphasised fiscal discipline and stakeholder collaboration. “The Roads Maintenance Levy is a critical resource for county and national roads,” she said. “We will continue working closely with counties, KeNHA, KURA and KERRA to ensure every shilling is used efficiently and transparently.”

The appointments have been welcomed by stakeholders in the roads sector. Kenya Association of Manufacturers CEO Anthony Mwaura said improved leadership at both institutions would benefit logistics and trade. “Reliable roads are essential for manufacturing competitiveness,” Mwaura said. “We look forward to faster progress on key corridors that have been delayed.”

The Kenya Transporters Association also expressed optimism. Chairman Paul Mbithi said: “We hope the new leadership will prioritise the completion of long-outstanding sections and improve enforcement against overloading and poor maintenance.”

Both new DGs will serve five-year renewable terms under the State Corporations Act and their respective enabling legislation. The changes take effect immediately, with handover processes already underway.