The Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) has called for the immediate revocation of former Gender Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa’s appointment as the chairperson of the Kenya Roads Board (KRB).
In a statement on Monday, January 27, 2025, IEK President Shammah Kiteme argued that Jumwa’s appointment gazetted on January 17, 2025, violates the Kenya Roads Board Act.
Kiteme explained that the appointment does not align with the legal requirements outlined in the KRB Act No. 7 of 1999 (Rev. 2023).
“The appointment of the Kenya Roads Board (KRB) Chairperson, as stated in Gazette Notice No. 395 dated January 17, 2025, reflects a non-executive position held by Hon. Aisha Jumwa Katana. However, this appointment raises concerns about alignment with the Kenya Roads Board Act No. 7 of 1999 (Rev. 2023), particularly with regard to the membership and the selection process for the Board,” the statement reads in part.
According to the Act, the KRB chairperson must be appointed from representatives nominated by five specific organizations: The Institution of Engineers of Kenya, The Automobile Association of Kenya, The Kenya Association of Manufacturers, The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, and The Kenya Transport Association.
“The Act mandates that the non-executive chairman be appointed from among the members nominated by the organizations listed in the First Schedule. However, Hon. Aisha Jumwa Katana does not represent any of these organizations, raising questions about the adherence to statutory provisions in her appointment,” Kiteme stated.
The engineers’ body emphasized that given KRB’s core mandate of road development and maintenance, the chairperson should preferably have a background in civil, structural, or transport engineering to provide essential expertise in handling the board’s technical responsibilities.
“The KRB is heavily involved in engineering work, such as overseeing the condition of roads, advising on road construction standards, and ensuring that projects are carried out effectively from a technical standpoint,” the statement noted.
The institution called for the appointment of a “suitably qualified chair in compliance with the law,” arguing that this change would strengthen KRB’s capacity to tackle engineering and infrastructure challenges.
“To ensure that the leadership of KRB is in line with its legal framework and technical requirements, it is recommended that appointments consider individuals with relevant professional backgrounds. This would not only strengthen KRB’s capacity to address engineering and infrastructure challenges but also enhance its credibility in overseeing projects that require technical expertise,” the statement reads in part.
Based on this, they asserted that Aisha Jumwa lacks the engineering background necessary for the role, making her unfit for the position.
“As highlighted, the current appointment of Hon. Aisha Jumwa Katana does not appear to be in accordance with the KRB Act, specifically in terms of the appointment process outlined in Section 7. We therefore call for immediate revocation of the appointment of Hon. Aisha Jumwa Katana as KRB Chair and the appointment of a suitably qualified Chair in compliance with the law,” IEK stated.
Aisha Jumwa’s appointment
In a gazette notice dated January 17, 2025, President Ruto announced the appointment of former Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Gender, and Affirmative Action Aisha Jumwa as chairperson of the Kenya Roads Board.
Jumwa replaced Ahmed Kolosh, a former Wajir West MP, who had held the position since April 2023.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 (1) (a) of the Kenya Roads Board Act, as read together with section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act. I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint- Aisha Jumwa Katana to be the non-executive Chairperson of the Kenya Roads Board, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 17th January, 2025. The appointment of Ahmed Kolosh Mohamed is revoked,” the gazette read.
Jumwa is expected to serve a three-year tenure in the parastatal.
