The Road Safety Association of Kenya has launched a fierce campaign to block what it calls an unconstitutional attempt to extend the tenure of George Njao, the Director General of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), for an additional three years.
The lobby group argues that such a move would violate Kenyan law and undermine public trust in the governance of state institutions.
In a strongly worded protest letter addressed to the State Corporations Advisory Committee, the Association, led by Chairman David Njoroge, contends that Njao’s current term—his second as NTSA boss—is set to expire in October 2025.
Under Kenyan law, heads of parastatals and authorities are limited to a maximum of two terms, totaling six years.
Njao’s first term ended in October 2022, after which it was extended for another three years, a decision the group already views as contentious.
Now, with reports that the NTSA Board has ratified a third term for Njao, the Association is sounding the alarm.
“We acknowledge that the current NTSA Director General, Mr. Njao, has already served his two full terms totaling six years,” the letter states.
“He has applied to have his contract extended for a further term of three years despite gross shortcomings and illegal conduct in the said position, in utter violation of the Constitution, the Public Officer Ethics Act No. 4 of 2003, and the Leadership and Integrity Act No. 19 of 2012.”
The lobby group accuses Njao’s leadership of being plagued by mismanagement, corruption, and incompetence, which they claim have contributed to preventable road deaths across the country.
“The current DG’s term was marred with mismanagement and delinquency that occasioned the deaths of thousands of Kenyans through road carnage which could have been avoided if he offered proper leadership,” Njoroge wrote.
He pointed to “extreme incompetence” that forced lobby groups to resort to legal action to compel the NTSA to fulfill its mandate.
Among the specific allegations leveled against Njao are rampant corruption and nepotism, which the Association says contravene the governance principles enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution and various integrity laws, including the Mwongozo Code of Governance.
The letter also highlights a controversial decision by Njao to award a contract for integrating speed governors into the NTSA’s servers to a company with alleged vested interests, sidelining other players in the speed limiter industry.
“His tenure has been clogged with selfish interests,” the letter asserts.
The Road Safety Association argues that extending Njao’s tenure would not only be illegal but would also erode the rule of law and public confidence in the NTSA.
“The rule of law is under threat if this move is effected,” Njoroge warned, emphasizing that term limits for parastatal heads are a critical safeguard against entrenched mismanagement.
To resolve the issue, the Association has called for Njao to proceed on terminal leave immediately, allowing for a smooth transition.
It has also urged the NTSA Board to advertise the Director General position without delay.
“Given the gravity of this matter, we expect a prompt and decisive response from the Board to uphold institutional integrity and restore public confidence,” the letter concludes.
As the October 2025 deadline approaches, the standoff between the Road Safety Association and the NTSA Board is likely to intensify, raising broader questions about accountability and leadership in Kenya’s public sector.
Neither Njao nor the NTSA Board has issued an official response to the allegations at the time of this reporting.
