A parliamentary petition has been filed in Kenya, calling for an examination of the legal basis of Silas Kinoti's continued service as Director-General of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA). The petition, lodged by citizens Omondi Charles and Velma Ongalo, questions the legitimacy of Kinoti's ongoing occupation of the office. According to the petitioners, Kinoti's contract expired on 18 June 2026, and they have been unable to locate any documents authorizing his continued service.
Kinoti was first appointed on 19 June 2020 on a fixed-term contract that ended on 18 June 2023, after which he served a second term that expired on 18 June 2026. The petitioners request that Parliament establish whether any instrument exists to authorize Kinoti's continued service, who issued it, and the legal authority underpinning it. They also seek to determine the effective date and intended duration of such an instrument.
The petition references amendments to the Kenya Roads Act introduced in 2025, which set out tenure provisions for Directors-General of road authorities and transitional arrangements for incumbents. The petitioners ask the National Assembly to assess how those 2025 amendments were interpreted and applied to KURA, including whether the transitional provisions were correctly implemented.
The petition also seeks to scrutinize the role of the KURA Board and the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport in any decision to renew or extend Kinoti's appointment. The petitioners request that the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure obtain various records, including the original appointment letter, contracts, board resolutions, and Gazette notices.
In addition to examining the legitimacy of Kinoti's continued service, the petition calls for scrutiny of public resources tied to the office. The petitioners question whether Kinoti continued to receive salary, allowances, or other benefits after the alleged term expiry and on what authority such payments were made.
The matter is already before the courts, with the petitioners having filed Constitutional and Human Rights Petition No. E119 of 2026 at the High Court in Kiambu on 29 September 2026. The petitioners, represented by EM Kaburu Law Advocates, seek to have the court determine the legitimacy of Kinoti's continued service and the use of public resources.
The Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure is now tasked with examining the 2025 amendments' application and recommending any legislative changes needed to address identified gaps. The committee's findings and recommendations will likely have significant implications for Kinoti's future at KURA and the broader governance of Kenya's urban roads sector.
Key points
- The petitioners claim Kinoti's contract expired on 18 June 2026, with no documented authorization for his continued service.
