Magondu Sets Aside Millions From Contractors To Buy Kerra DG Position

A dangerous scheme to capture the Kenya Rural Roads Authority top job through cash and political connections is unfolding, threatening to drag the roads agency back into the corruption quagmire that has haunted it for years.

Acting Director General Engineer Jackson Magondu stands accused of orchestrating an elaborate plan to secure his confirmation by raising millions of shillings from construction firms that have grown fat on KeRRA tenders, according to multiple sources within the agency.

The allegations paint a disturbing picture of an institution where power, money and fear have replaced merit in the race for one of the most lucrative positions in Kenya’s public service.

What makes the situation particularly alarming is that Magondu is no stranger to controversy.

He reportedly sits in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission black book following a demotion from deputy director general over allegations of demanding sexual favors in exchange for job opportunities and his involvement in irregular tender awards.

Insiders claim Magondu panicked after appearing before the interview panel, fearing he would lose the position on merit alone. What followed, sources say, was a calculated campaign to buy his way to the top.

Construction companies that have enjoyed repeated contracts, inflated project costs and questionable variations have allegedly been approached to contribute to a war chest designed to oil the wheels of his confirmation.

These are the same firms that Magondu allegedly cultivated relationships with during his time heading KeRRA’s Special Projects Department, a strategic position overseeing the ambitious Roads 10,000KM Programme.

During that period, sources claim, Magondu perfected the art of extracting kickbacks from desperate contractors.

Firms vying for projects under the programme reportedly had to agree to monthly payments of Ksh 100,000, while approving certificates for payment required sums ranging between Ksh 1 million to Ksh 2 million.

It is these same contractors, grown wealthy on inflated road contracts, that he is now allegedly tapping to finance his bid for the top job.

The acting director general has reportedly invoked the names of powerful government figures to intimidate rivals and silence critics.

Sources say he has boasted about connections to Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, using these names as shields against scrutiny.

While no public evidence confirms these claims, the mention of such high offices has created a climate of fear at KeRRA.

Employees who dare question Magondu face transfers, sidelining or stalled promotions, making it nearly impossible to challenge what insiders describe as a brazen attempt to purchase the director general position.

Beyond the financial allegations, Magondu faces serious personal conduct questions.

Female staff at KeRRA headquarters have privately raised complaints of sexual harassment, but these grievances have allegedly been buried by senior managers seeking to protect the acting director general during the crucial recruitment period.

These are not new allegations for Magondu.

His demotion from deputy director general was reportedly linked to sex-for-employment schemes that left a trail of victims even as he flaunted his wealth in the company of numerous mistresses.

One construction firm allegedly involved in dubious deals with him is said to be linked to a secret lover, raising questions about how deep the web of corruption and personal relationships runs.

No court has ruled on these allegations and no formal investigation has been concluded, but the silence surrounding them raises troubling questions about accountability and protection of whistleblowers within the agency.

Adding to the internal turmoil is the reported hostility between Magondu and his deputy, Engineer Enock Arita Kombo.

Enock Kombo.

Sources describe open animosity, with Magondu viewing Kombo as a threat to his ambitions.

Those familiar with the situation believe Magondu fears his deputy could expose irregular dealings, fueling the rush to secure the top position before opposition can organize.

The ill-gotten wealth allegedly accumulated through years of corruption is evident in Magondu’s lifestyle. Sources say he owns numerous properties in Nairobi and Mombasa, assets that raise uncomfortable questions about how a public servant on a government salary could amass such wealth.

The fight for the KeRRA director general seat comes at a time when the agency is still reeling from its corrupt past.

For years, the roads authority served as a feeding trough for unscrupulous engineers and officials who used inflated tenders, fake variations and ghost works to drain public funds meant for rural roads.

Former Director General Philemon Kandie became the symbol of that era of plunder. In October 2025, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officers arrested him in a dramatic night raid, seizing electronics and documents from his home. Investigators have been questioning him over allegations of graft and financial mismanagement during his tenure.

Kandie had resigned two years before his term ended, with KeRRA offering no explanation at the time. Later, a High Court petition accused him of funneling state funds through shell companies to finance June protests, allegations he has denied.

Ex-Kerra DG Philemon Kandie.

The arrest sent shockwaves through the agency, but employees say the fundamental problems remain.

The same networks that thrived under Kandie survived his fall. Magondu himself represents continuity rather than change, having allegedly been a key player in the corruption machinery during the Kandie era and before.

Curiously, while Magondu continues to enjoy influence and power within KeRRA, his alleged associate Margaret Wanja Muthui, a former manager at the agency described by insiders as his twin sister in corruption, was successfully charged and had her property seized by the state in 2023.

Many at KeRRA wonder aloud why Magondu has escaped similar legal consequences despite facing comparable allegations.

This continuity explains why insiders describe the director general position as every crooked engineer’s dream.

The job holder controls procurement approvals worth billions, project priorities and internal audits.

A single signature can unlock vast sums of public money, which is precisely what makes the position so attractive to someone with Magondu’s alleged history.

Any serious reform would threaten those feeding off the system, which is why sources believe there is such determination to buy the position rather than win it through merit and integrity.

The money being raised from contractors is not just about securing a job but about protecting a lucrative ecosystem of corruption that has enriched a select few at public expense.

The implications for ordinary Kenyans are severe.

If the allegations hold water and Magondu secures confirmation through dubious means, rural roads will continue to fail, projects will stall and taxpayer money will vanish into private pockets.

The exploitation of tender processes that allegedly made Magondu wealthy will simply continue under official protection.

Kenyans have witnessed this tragedy before.

Kandie’s arrest demonstrated where unchecked power leads. Confirming a director general with Magondu’s controversial background, already in the EACC black book and facing multiple serious allegations, would repeat the same mistakes with predictable consequences.

The appointing authorities now face a critical test of their commitment to good governance.

They can demand integrity, transparency and thorough vetting, or they can ignore the warning signs and gamble with public trust.

The fact that someone reportedly demoted for corruption and sexual harassment is even in the running for the top job raises questions about the seriousness of the vetting process.

For KeRRA, this decision will determine the agency’s trajectory for years to come.

For millions of Kenyans who depend on rural roads for access to markets, schools and hospitals, it will decide whether their taxes build infrastructure or simply enrich the corrupt.

The question now is whether those with the power to act will choose accountability over convenience, merit over money, and the public interest over political expediency.

Will they seriously examine why someone allegedly in the EACC black book is being considered for such a sensitive position?

Will they investigate the properties in Nairobi and Mombasa? Will they question how contractors are being mobilized to raise millions for his confirmation?

The answer will reveal much about the direction of governance in Kenya and whether the fight against corruption is genuine or merely performative theater designed to pacify an increasingly skeptical public.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​