Parliament has moved closer to drastically reducing the term of at least three directors-general of key road agencies from a maximum of 10 years to six.
On June 19, the National Assembly is expected to vote on the Kenya Roads (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2025, during the Second Reading stage.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who sponsored the Bill, moved the motion on Wednesday following the conclusion of debate.
However, the House deferred the vote — technically referred to as "putting the question" — to Thursday afternoon.
According to
the Order Paper, the Bill is scheduled for the Second Reading vote and is
listed as item number 12 in the order of business.
After this stage, the Bill will move to the final Third Reading Stage before being referred to the president for assent.
The proposed legislation seeks to reduce the term limits for directors of Kenya’s top road agencies from the current 10 years to a maximum of six.
The government says the change aims to enhance accountability, performance, and alignment with established governance standards.
The Bill’s core objective is to reverse amendments made during the 12th Parliament, which had extended the terms of service for directors-general of road sector agencies to five years, renewable once, effectively allowing them to serve up to 10 years. This change had aligned their tenure with that of CEOs in other state parastatals.
However, Ichung’wah noted that the intent of the current Bill is to revert to three-year terms, in line with the Mwongozo Code of Governance for State Corporations, which caps CEO terms at three years, renewable once, subject to satisfactory performance.
He explained that the Bill seeks to amend Section 13 of the Kenya Roads Act, Cap 408, to reduce the term of chief executive officers or equivalent positions from five years (renewable once) to three years, also renewable once.
Currently, directors-general of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) serve five-year renewable terms.
“Section 13(3) of the Kenya Roads Act is amended by deleting the word ‘five’ and substituting it with the word ‘three’. A person who, immediately before the commencement of this Act, held office as a director-general shall serve for the unexpired period of their term and, if serving their first term, shall be eligible for appointment to a further one-year term,” Ichung’wah stated.
He added: “The principal object of the Bill is to amend Section 13 of the Kenya Roads Act, Cap 408, to align it with the Mwongozo Code of Governance for State Corporations.”
Ichung’wah emphasised that the proposed term limits are intended to promote performance and good governance within the management structures and boards of state corporations.
“The Code of Conduct for State Corporations provides that chief executive officers or equivalent positions serve for a term of three years, renewable once, subject to satisfactory performance,” he said.
“The current five-year provision in the Kenya Roads Act is inconsistent with governance standards established in the Mwongozo Code and undermines key values of accountability and institutional integrity.”
