Personal Profile
Hon. Eng. Joshua Ngugi Toro was re-appointed as the Chairman of the National Irrigation Authority Board of Directors via Gazette Notice No. 6018 of the Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXIV-No. 96 dated 26th May, 2022 and published on 27th May, 2022. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nairobi. He is a registered Engineer by Engineers Registration Board and a member of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya.
His Engineering career started immediately after graduating in 1977 at Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC). While at KRC, he was seconded to the Union of African Railways Headquarters in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo as Head of Engineering between 1989 and 1992. The Union is a specialized agency of the African Union (AU) responsible for the promotion of railway network interconnection and transportation of goods and passengers within African Countries. As Head of Engineering, he was responsible for research and feasibility studies, policy development for acquisition, design, renewal and standardization of rolling stock and equipment and evolution of maintenance standards for the members’ railways. The Government of Kenya accorded him Diplomatic status during this period (1989 to 1992).
Hon. Eng. Toro served as a Member of Parliament for Kandara Constituency for ten (10) years from 1997 to 2007. H.E Mwai Kibaki, who was the Official Leader of Opposition then, appointed him shadow Minister for Roads, Public Works and Housing in parliament for five (5) years between 1997 and 2002. He also served as the vice chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Labour, Health, Housing and Social Welfare between 1997 and 2002.
He was appointed by the then President, H.E Mwai Kibaki as an Assistant Minister for Roads, Public Works and Housing for five (5) years between 2003 and 2007. While in Parliament, he served as Member of African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) which is affiliated to the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption between 1997 and 2009.
Hon. Eng. Toro was one of the pioneer members of the Board of Directors of Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) that established it from scratch to the current formidable organization it is today. He was a Board member at KeNHA for five (5) years between 2008 and 2012 where he also served as the chairman of the Authority’s Technical committee alongside being a member of the Audit and the Procurement Oversight Committees.
His background in Engineering and experience in the various leadership roles will help him lead the National Irrigation Authority in implementing its mandate and realizing its vision of availing water to every irrigable acre.