Former National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director-General Francis Meja is poised for a new chapter in public service following his nomination as the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The posting will mark a significant return to the centre of Kenya’s governance and reform agenda.
President William Ruto nominated Meja for the position through Notification of Presidential Action No. I of 2026, with the name forwarded to the National Assembly for vetting and approval in line with constitutional requirements.
Meja currently serves as a member of the PSC, a role he assumed in January 2025, giving him direct insight into the commission’s operations and challenges.
If approved by Parliament, Meja will assume leadership of the constitutional commission charged with overseeing the human resource function of the national public service.
His responsibilities will include the establishment of public offices, appointment and confirmation of public officers, and the exercise of disciplinary control, including removal from office where necessary.
As chairperson, he will preside over meetings, set the commission’s agenda and act as its chief spokesperson.
The role also places Meja at the heart of ongoing public service reforms, with a mandate to promote constitutional values such as meritocracy, integrity, inclusivity, efficiency and effectiveness.
He will be expected to guide the development of human resource strategies, review conditions of service and make policy recommendations to the government on public service management.
Meja is widely known for his tenure as the founding Director-General of the NTSA, where he spearheaded wide-ranging reforms in the transport sector.
During his two-term stint, which ended in early 2020, he oversaw the automation of services through the Transport Integrated Management Systems (TIMS), making all NTSA services accessible online.
The reforms were credited with improving efficiency, transparency and service delivery in vehicle registration, licensing and road safety management. Before heading NTSA, he served as the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
After leaving NTSA, Meja transitioned into the education sector and governance roles. In November 2023, then Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu appointed him to the Council of Murang’a University of Technology.
Meja has also engaged in elective politics. He contested the Kajiado gubernatorial seat in the August 2022 General Election but lost in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party primaries.
He later made an unsuccessful bid to join the Commission on Revenue Allocation.
Beyond public service, Meja brings over 15 years of experience in banking and financial services, having held management positions at Equity Bank Kenya PLC and the Housing Finance Company of Kenya (HFCK).
He holds a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi.
His nomination comes at a time when the PSC faces challenges ranging from political interference and corruption to capacity gaps and reform implementation in a devolved system, setting the stage for a demanding but influential tenure should Parliament approve his appointment.
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