The Board of Directors of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has officially announced the appointment of Eng. Luka Kipchumba Kimeli as the substantive Director General.
The appointment, confirmed in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Roads and Transport, took effect on February 17, 2026.
This confirmation marks the end of a transitional period for the Authority that began with the abrupt leadership changes of mid-2025.
The road to Kimeli’s permanent appointment follows a period of significant upheaval within Kenya’s transport sector. On July 11, 2025, the previous Director General, Eng. Kung’u Ndung’u, resigned from his position with immediate effect.
Ndung’u’s departure was part of a sudden wave of high-level exits that saw the Director General of the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Philemon Kandie, step down on the same day. While the KeNHA board accepted Ndung’u’s resignation immediately, no specific reasons were provided for his abrupt exit, which occurred mid-tenure. Eng. Kimeli, who was serving within the organization at the time, was quickly appointed in an acting capacity.
The Board noted that the transition from acting to substantive Director General followed a competitive and transparent recruitment process conducted in accordance with the Kenya Roads Act, 2007.
Kimeli brings 27 years of experience to the role. His career has been defined by his work in infrastructure development, strategic program delivery, and public sector leadership. He has steered the Authority through the months following the 2025 resignations.