Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has appointed Francis Gitau as the Director General of Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA).
The appointment, Murkomen said in a statement, follows the conclusion of a “competitive” recruitment process by the board.
Gitau, who until his appointment has been holding the same position in an acting capacity, will serve for three years.
“...in the exercise of the powers conferred by Section 4 of the State Corporation Act as read together with Order 13(1) of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority Order, 2017, 1, the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, hereby notify the public of the appointment of Francis Gitau as the Director General of Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NaMATA),” reads a statement.
Previously, Gitau served as Infrastructure Secretary at the State Department of Roads.
He has an experience of 30 years in road sector development and management.
Gitau holds a master's degree in Transportation Engineering from the University of Nairobi, an Executive Master's in Business Administration from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.
“He has postgraduate training in Road Maintenance from Aachen University. Germany and has acquired advanced international training on Road Construction and Maintenance from Malaysia,” it further reads.
He is also trained in corporate governance among other professional training done locally and internationally.
While congratulating him on his new role, Murkomen expressed confidence that he will provide leadership in the development of an integrated Mass Rapid Transport System for the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
NaMATA was established with the main mandate of overseeing the establishment of an integrated, efficient, effective and sustainable public transport system within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area (NMA).
NMA is made up of Kajiado, Kiambu, Machakos, Murang’a and Nairobi City counties.
It is also tasked with developing, formulating and implementing strategies, plans and policies about public transport.
It coordinates the development, management and maintenance of MRTS with other government agencies and parties as well as regulates and enters into agreements with MRTS Operators and Service Providers.