Civil Engineer – Roads

Kenya National Highways Authority

Nairobifull time~KES 90k – 140k/mo3w ago

Quick Take

The Role

Design road alignments and drainage structures while supervising construction contractors to ensure quality compliance on national highway projects across Kenya.

You Need

BSc in Civil Engineering with EBK registration (or eligibility), plus at least 3 years of hands-on road design or construction supervision experience.

You Get

A stable, government-backed role with a competitive KES 90,000–140,000 salary, direct impact on Kenya's national infrastructure, and strong career progression within a leading public authority.

Job Description

•Role Overview

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is looking to bring on board a qualified Civil Engineer – Roads to join its technical team in Nairobi. This position sits at the heart of the Authority's mandate to develop and maintain a world-class national road network, offering the successful candidate a chance to contribute meaningfully to infrastructure that drives Kenya's economic growth.

The Civil Engineer will be primarily involved in the design and supervision of national road projects, working closely with contractors, consultants, and internal teams to ensure that construction activities meet the required engineering standards and are delivered to the highest quality benchmarks.

•Key Responsibilities

Develop road alignment designs, including the planning of drainage structures and pavement layer configurations
Provide on-site supervision of road construction contractors, monitoring workmanship and enforcing quality compliance throughout project execution
Prepare detailed engineering reports, technical drawings, and documentation required at various project stages
Carry out site surveys and geotechnical assessments to inform design decisions and construction planning

•Required Skills & Experience

A Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from a recognised institution
Current registration with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), or demonstrated eligibility to register
A minimum of three (3) years of hands-on experience in road design, construction supervision, or a closely related discipline
Strong understanding of road engineering principles, including pavement design, drainage planning, and site investigation methodologies
Ability to produce clear and accurate technical drawings and engineering reports

•Who Should Apply

This opportunity is best suited for a self-driven and detail-oriented civil engineering professional who has built a solid foundation in road infrastructure projects. You should be comfortable working both in the office on design and documentation tasks and out in the field conducting surveys and supervising contractors. Whether you are already registered with EBK or actively working towards that milestone, you should bring at least three years of relevant road-sector experience and a genuine commitment to delivering quality public infrastructure. Candidates who thrive in dynamic, project-based environments and can manage competing priorities on active construction sites will be particularly well placed for this role.

•How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for the Civil Engineer – Roads position at Kenya National Highways Authority through the KeNHA official recruitment channels. Ensure your application includes an up-to-date curriculum vitae, copies of relevant academic and professional certificates, and proof of EBK registration or eligibility. Submit your application as directed by KeNHA through their official website or advertised application portal, taking care to meet any stated deadline for submissions.

Requirements Breakdown

Must Have

BSc in Civil Engineering from a recognised university
Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) registration or demonstrated eligibility to register
Minimum 3 years of experience in road design or construction supervision
Proficiency in road alignment, pavement design, and drainage structure design
Ability to prepare engineering reports, drawings, and conduct site surveys

Nice to Have

Experience with geotechnical assessments and soil investigation
Familiarity with AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or similar road design software
Prior work on government or donor-funded infrastructure projects in Kenya
Knowledge of Kenya Roads Board standards and KURA/KeNHA design guidelines

Don't meet every requirement? Tailor your CV to close the gap →

Salary Context

Competitive to above-market salary for a mid-level Civil Engineer – Roads in Nairobi

Mid-level civil engineers in Kenya's public infrastructure sector typically earn between KES 70,000 and KES 120,000 per month, making the upper end of this range (KES 140,000) notably attractive. Pay in this field is influenced by EBK registration status, years of experience, and whether the employer is a government authority, consultancy, or contractor — public authorities like KeNHA tend to offer more stability and benefits alongside the base salary.

About Kenya National Highways Authority

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is the state agency responsible for the development, rehabilitation, and maintenance of Class A, B, and C roads — the arterial highways that connect Kenya's major cities, border crossings, and economic corridors. Managing thousands of kilometres of national road network, KeNHA plays a central role in Kenya's Vision 2030 infrastructure agenda and works alongside international financiers such as the World Bank and AfDB on flagship projects. Working at KeNHA offers engineers the rare opportunity to shape infrastructure that directly impacts millions of Kenyans, with the job security and institutional credibility of a national government authority.

Likely Interview Questions

1
Walk us through your experience designing pavement layers — what design standards and software have you used, and how did you determine the appropriate pavement structure for a specific project?
2
Describe a situation where a contractor on a road project was not meeting quality standards. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?
3
How do you approach drainage design for a road in an area prone to flash flooding? What factors do you consider?
4
Have you worked on any projects requiring geotechnical assessments? What was your role, and how did the findings influence the design?
5
KeNHA projects often involve multiple stakeholders — communities, contractors, consultants, and government ministries. How do you manage competing interests and communication on a large road project?

Application Tips

Prominently list any specific road projects you have contributed to on your CV — include the project name, scale (e.g. kilometres of road, contract value), your exact role, and the outcome, as KeNHA recruiters will look for demonstrable project experience.
Highlight your EBK registration number or the stage of your registration process clearly near the top of your CV, as this is a near-mandatory requirement and signals professional credibility immediately.
If you have experience with donor-funded projects (World Bank, AfDB, JICA) or have used Kenya-specific design standards such as the Road Design Manual, call this out explicitly — it shows familiarity with the regulatory and funding environment KeNHA operates in and will set you apart from candidates with purely private-sector backgrounds.

Career Path

Roles that lead here

Graduate / Junior Civil Engineer (Roads & Highways)

Site Engineer at a Roads Construction Contractor or Consultancy

YOU

Where this leads

Senior Civil Engineer / Roads Design Manager

Project Manager – Infrastructure (KeNHA or Roads Consultancy)

Skills & Keywords

civil-engineeringroadskenhagovernmentebk

Honest Assessment

Green Flags

Transparent salary range of KES 90,000–140,000 is clearly stated, which is relatively uncommon in Kenyan job postings and signals organisational transparency.
KeNHA is a well-established, government-backed employer offering strong job security compared to private sector contractors or small consultancies.
The role spans both design and supervision, offering broad skills development across the full project lifecycle rather than a narrow, siloed function.
Working on national highway projects provides a high-impact, portfolio-building opportunity that is highly valued by future employers in both the public and private infrastructure sectors.

Watch Out

The posting does not mention specific benefits such as medical cover, pension, or leave entitlements, which are standard expectations at a government authority — candidates should clarify the full compensation package during the interview process.
The description does not specify whether the role requires frequent upcountry travel to project sites, which is common at KeNHA and could significantly affect work-life balance — worth confirming upfront.

A Day in the Life

☀️

Early in the week, you might spend a morning reviewing AutoCAD drawings and pavement design calculations for an upcoming road section, then join a coordination meeting with a contractor's site team to address a drainage alignment issue flagged in the previous week's site visit. Midweek could involve travelling to a project site on the outskirts of Nairobi to conduct a quality inspection of freshly laid base course material, collecting data for a geotechnical assessment report due to a senior engineer by Friday. By the end of the week, you're back at the Nairobi office compiling a progress report for submission to KeNHA's project management team, incorporating photos, test results, and recommendations — the kind of structured, evidence-based documentation that keeps major national road contracts on track.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do I need to apply for the Civil Engineer – Roads role at Kenya National Highways Authority?

You need a BSc in Civil Engineering, registration with the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) or eligibility to register, and at least 3 years of experience in road design or construction supervision.

Is the Civil Engineer – Roads position at KeNHA a remote or field-based role?

The role is based in Nairobi and is a full-time, office and site-based position — given responsibilities such as contractor supervision and site surveys, expect regular travel to active road construction sites.

How much does a Civil Engineer – Roads earn at Kenya National Highways Authority?

The advertised salary range is KES 90,000 to KES 140,000 per month, which is competitive and above the typical mid-level civil engineering salary in Kenya's public infrastructure sector.

What are the career growth opportunities after working as a Civil Engineer at KeNHA?

This role builds a strong foundation for progression to Senior Civil Engineer, Roads Design Manager, or Project Manager positions within KeNHA itself or with major infrastructure consultancies and government agencies across East Africa.

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