Nelson Amenya Exposes KeRRA Recruitment Scandal Involving Corruption-Charged Officials
Fresh controversy has emerged at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) following claims by whistleblower Nelson Amenya that the ongoing recruitment of a new Director General and senior managers has been compromised by conflicts of interest and the involvement of officials previously linked to corruption cases.
Amenya, who rose to national prominence in June 2024 after exposing the controversial Adani infrastructure deal, has now questioned the integrity of KeRRA’s recruitment process. At the centre of his concerns is the unexplained extension of the application deadline for 18 senior positions, including that of Director General, from January 13 to January 20, 2026.
According to Amenya, the decision to extend the deadline without a public explanation raises red flags about transparency and fairness. “The extension was done quietly, without justification. The obvious question is whose late application the board was trying to accommodate,” he said, warning that the process may have been compromised even before interviews begin.
Attention has also turned to KeRRA Board Chairman Anthony Mwaura, whose appointment has previously sparked public debate. Mwaura was charged alongside former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and 16 others in a long-running case involving the alleged embezzlement of Ksh357 million from Nairobi County through companies linked to him.
Although Mwaura was acquitted in February 2024, Amenya argues that the acquittal did not amount to a substantive clearance of wrongdoing. “Yes, he was acquitted in February 2024, but he wasn’t cleared because he was innocent. The prosecution simply failed to show up,” Amenya stated.
Court records indicate that the magistrate had earlier described Mwaura as “the main suspect” in the case and had declined to terminate the charges against him. This history has continued to fuel questions about his suitability for senior public appointments.
In July 2024, the High Court nullified Mwaura’s appointment as Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) chairperson, ruling that the appointment was illegal because it was made while corruption charges were still pending. Justice Gikonyo described Mwaura’s defence as “quite unfortunate and arrogant.”
Despite the ruling, Mwaura was later appointed chair of KeRRA in December 2024. Critics have since raised concerns that the agency oversees road construction tenders while Mwaura is associated with construction firms that bid for government contracts, a situation seen as a potential conflict of interest.
Amenya has also questioned the continued tenure of Eng. Jackson Magondu, who has served as Acting Director General since July 11, 2025. Under Section 34(3) of the Public Service Commission Act, an acting appointment should not exceed six months. “His continued stay in office goes against the law,” Amenya said.
Further controversy arises from claims that Magondu may be applying for the same Director General position he currently occupies in an acting capacity. “Sources indicate he may be applying for the same DG position he’s currently acting in. This is a fundamental conflict of interest. How can someone who controls operations, timelines and recruitment criteria also be a candidate?” Amenya asked.
The University of Nairobi has been engaged as a consultant to oversee the recruitment. However, Amenya alleges that Chairman Mwaura has been privately engaging the consultants to influence the outcome, a claim that has not been independently verified.
KeRRA has in recent years been dogged by corruption scandals. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has recommended prosecutions involving Ksh2.048 billion, while former Director General Philemon Kandie resigned in July 2025 amid allegations of misusing Ksh4.6 billion.
As scrutiny intensifies, governance experts say the unfolding controversy underscores the need for stricter enforcement of integrity standards in public sector recruitment, particularly in institutions entrusted with multi-billion-shilling infrastructure budgets.
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Nelson Amenya Exposes KeRRA Recruitment Scandal Involving Corruption-Charged Officials
