President William Ruto has nominated Francis Meja, the former head of the National Transport and Safety Authority, to serve as chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC). The nomination has been forwarded to the National Assembly, where lawmakers will vet and either approve or reject it.
Mr Meja is no stranger to the commission he may soon lead. He has served as a member of the PSC since January 2025, giving him an insider’s view of an institution tasked with shaping the country’s public workforce.
The nomination was communicated through Notification of Presidential Action No. I of 2026. In a brief statement, the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, said the decision was made “in discharge of the constitutional imperatives on State appointments”.
If approved, Mr Meja would take charge of one of the most influential bodies in government, responsible for recruitment, discipline and oversight across the public service.
His career has moved steadily through the corridors of the State. He is best known as the founding Director-General of the NTSA, where he oversaw the agency’s early years as it sought to bring order to Kenya’s often-chaotic transport sector. Before that, he served as Registrar of Motor Vehicles in the Ministry of Transport.
Away from roads and regulation, Mr Meja has also had a foothold in academia. In late 2023, he was appointed to the council of Murang’a University of Technology, a position he relinquished in January 2025 after joining the PSC.
His resume stretches beyond government. He has spent more than 15 years in banking and financial services, holding management roles at Equity Bank Kenya and the Housing Finance Company of Kenya. He holds a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi.
Politics, too, has brushed against his career. In the run-up to the 2022 General Election, Mr Meja sought the United Democratic Alliance ticket for the Kajiado governor’s race. He lost the party primaries to Katoo ole Metito, who won by a wide margin.
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