The stewardship of Kenya’s most critical infrastructure asset has been settled. After months of uncertainty, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Board has confirmed Engineer Luka Kipchumba Kimeli as the substantive Director General, tasking him with steering the multi-billion shilling roads sector.

Kimeli’s appointment, effective from February 17, 2026, marks the end of a transitional period that began in July 2025 following the exit of Kung’u Ndung’u. The decision, made in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, places a veteran insider at the helm of an agency that controls the lifelines of the Kenyan economy. With 27 years of experience in the sector, Kimeli is not a new face, but he now faces the new challenge of absolute accountability.

The Infrastructure Mandate

The task ahead is monumental. KeNHA is currently overseeing a portfolio of mega-projects that are central to the government’s economic agenda, including the expansion of the Mau Summit highway and the maintenance of the critical Northern Corridor. Kimeli’s track record in strategic program delivery will be tested immediately as he navigates budget constraints and the public’s demand for world-class roads.

Board Chairperson Winfrida Ngumi expressed total confidence in the new DG, citing his ability to drive "greater efficiency and service excellence." This is code for a shift in operational culture. The authority has faced pressure to streamline project completion times and reduce the cost of road construction. Kimeli’s mandate is to ensure that every shilling spent on asphalt translates into tangible economic value.

• The Selection Process: The Board emphasized that the recruitment was competitive and transparent, adhering strictly to the Kenya Roads Act, 2007, to dispel any notions of political patronage.
• The Immediate Agenda: Unlocking stalled projects and operationalizing the new tolling frameworks are likely to be top of his in-tray.
• Regional Integration: A key part of his role will be ensuring that Kenya’s highways remain the preferred transit routes for the East African Community, facing down competition from the Central Corridor in Tanzania.

A Steady Hand on the Tiller

The appointment brings stability to an agency that cannot afford leadership vacuums. As the government pushes for public-private partnerships to fund infrastructure, investors need certainty in KeNHA’s leadership. Kimeli provides that continuity. He knows the system, he knows the stakeholders, and now he has the power to execute.

For the motorists of Kenya, the name Luka Kimeli will now be synonymous with the state of the roads they drive on. His success will be measured in kilometers paved and potholes filled. The engineering phase of his career is over; the administrative phase has begun.