Just a day after the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) rejected her appointment, Aisha Jumwa stepped into her new role as the chairperson of the Kenya Roads Board (KRB) highlighting her commitment to the new role.
In a ceremony graced by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, Jumwa was inaugurated as the new chair after her recent appointment by President William Ruto garnered significant backlash from stakeholders within the engineering sector.
“It is with great humility and gratitude that I step into the role of chairperson of the Kenya Roads Board. Today’s inaugural ceremony, graced by Cabinet Secretary for Roads Davis Chirchir, marks a key milestone in my commitment to advancing Kenya’s road infrastructure,” Jumwa stated.
Through a statement, Jumwa reiterated her dedication to delivering in her new role expressing her optimism in working with her new colleagues at the KRB.
“The signing of the statutory documents marks my commitment to advancing the growth and modernization of our road networks. I am honored and excited to collaborate with my colleagues at KRB and all sector stakeholders to fulfill our mandate,” she noted.
On Monday, January 27, IEK rejected Jumwa’s appointment as chair of KRB stating that her appointment failed to meet the stipulated regulations as outlined in the Kenya Roads Board Act no.7 in regard to the appointment process.
“We (IEK) 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 averred.
IEK argued that Jumwa did not have the requisite qualifications to head the Board, noting she did not have any background in civil, structural, or transport engineering that would align her well with the responsibilities of heading the Board.
Furthermore, the engineering body criticised the nature of her appointment, noting that it contravened the guidelines stipulated in the First Schedule of the Kenya Roads Board (KRB) Act.
“The Act mandates that the non-executive chairperson be appointed from among the members nominated by the organisations listed in the First Schedule. However, Hon. Aisha Jumwa Katana does not represent any of these organisations, raising questions about the adherence to statutory provisions in her appointment,” IEK stated.
According to the First Schedule, the organisations mandated to nominate the chair of KRB are 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.
IEK highlighted the importance of KRB in road maintenance across the country as a significant concern, emphasising that the role requires a highly skilled individual with expertise in the technical functions of KRB.
It remains to be seen whether the stand taken by IEK will be accorded the necessary attention by the powers that be but in the meantime it appears that Jumwa is staying put in her new role.
