KeRRA Boss Kandie Resigns Barely Days After Being Linked To Saba Saba Chaos

Kenya Rural Roads Authority Director General steps down following damning petition alleging role in financing June protests

The Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) Director General Philemon Kandie has tendered his resignation, barely eight days after being implicated in a High Court petition that accused him of financing and coordinating violent protests that rocked the country in June 2025.

In a resignation letter dated July 11, 2025, and addressed to KeRRA board chairman Anthony Ng’ang’a Mwaura, Kandie gave a three-month notice, with his last day of employment set for October 10, 2025. The embattled director general indicated he would proceed on his 45-day annual leave during this transition period.

“This letter serves as a formal notification of my resignation from the position of Director General at Kenya Rural Roads Authority, giving a notice of 3 months effective 11 July 2025, with my last day of employment being 10th October 2025,” Kandie stated in his resignation letter.

The resignation comes at a particularly sensitive time for Kandie, who has been fighting serious allegations of misconduct. On July 3, 2025, concerned citizen Wahome Mucunu filed a petition in the High Court seeking his removal over claims he used his position to funnel state resources to support what the petitioner described as politically motivated demonstrations.

The petition specifically accused Kandie of violating multiple constitutional provisions including abuse of office, breach of public trust, and misuse of public resources to support the June 2025 protests that commemorated the anniversary of the deadly anti-tax demonstrations that led to the storming of parliament in 2024.

According to the court documents, the demonstrations resulted in widespread violence, property destruction, and loss of life, with human rights organizations reporting at least 16 deaths during the nationwide rallies.

The petitioner alleged that intelligence and investigative reports had established links between procurement accounts and logistical support for violent groups to entities associated with Kandie.

The petition also specifically mentioned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached in October 2024 amid accusations of supporting youth-led anti-government protests.

Mucunu claimed that Kandie had used shell companies and contractors linked to KeRRA to support what she described as a politically motivated campaign allegedly spearheaded by Gachagua.

Despite the circumstances surrounding his departure, Kandie expressed commitment to ensuring a smooth transition. In his resignation letter, he thanked the KeRRA board for their support during his tenure.

“I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition during this period and take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the Board of KeRRA for the support and incredible journey throughout my tenure. I wish everyone in the team much success in the years to come,” Kandie stated.

KeRRA board chairman Mwaura Ng’anga announced that Engineer Jackson K. Magondu, the current director for planning, design, and environment, has been appointed to serve as acting Director General with effect from Friday, July 11, 2025.

“The Board of Directors, in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Roads and Transport, wishes to inform that Engineer Jackson K. Magondu has been appointed to the Office of the Director General on acting capacity,” Ng’anga stated in a press release.

Kandie’s tenure at KeRRA has been marked by persistent allegations of financial impropriety.

Beyond the recent protest-related accusations, he has faced multiple corruption allegations throughout his leadership, including accusations of irregular use of Sh4.6 billion in public funds.

The authority, which is charged with the development, rehabilitation, maintenance, and management of roads in rural areas, has been dogged by procurement scandals and allegations of financial mismanagement under his leadership.

The July 3 petition sought several court orders including a declaration that Kandie had violated the Constitution and committed gross misconduct, a permanent injunction barring him from holding any public office, and compelling various investigative bodies including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to probe his alleged misconduct.

While Kandie’s resignation may remove him from his current position, the legal proceedings against him are likely to continue, particularly given the serious nature of the allegations linking him to state-sponsored violence and misuse of public resources.

The resignation marks the end of a controversial tenure that has been synonymous with corruption allegations and now, potentially, political violence – casting a shadow over one of Kenya’s key infrastructure development agencies.