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JULY - AUGUST 2021 Vol. 16, No 158 Selection criteria for Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders to Watch in 2021 NEWS FEATURE SOCIETY The men and women in the public service have proven many times and in numerous work At what age are people usually happiest? Medical oxygen should not be a luxury – we’re environments that they are inspired and fired by entirely different set of compulsions than is the norm, and in most cases, beyond what is expected of them in their call of duty. 4 New research offers surprising clues 104 trying to develop a cheaper way to produce it 142

NOMINEES SOCIETY Matilda P. Sakwa - Director Yes, more and more young adults 6 Dr. Fred Matiang’i, EGH - Cabinet General & CEO National are living with their parents – Youth Service Medical oxygen should not be Secretary Interior and Coordination but is that necessarily bad? 142 a luxury – we’re trying to develop of National Government Matilda Sakwa was appointed NYS In countries where collectivism is more acting Director General in mid-2018. A highly valued than individualism – in places a cheaper way to produce it 10 Peter Ndegwa - CEO Safaricom Plc consummate career administrator and as diverse as Italy, Japan and Mexico – a team player, she was (betrayed) by parents mostly prefer to have their emerging RESEARCH Lady Justice Martha Koome her exceptional skills in management adults stay home until marriage. 16 and coordination of public affairs. 108 - Chief Justice and President 82 of the Supreme Court 144 Severe Covid in young Hon. - Cabinet NEWS FEATURE 128 Social norms and poor people can mostly be explained 20 Carole Kariuki-Karuga - CEO Kenya Secretary Ministry for services drive petty corruption by obesity – new study Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) Tourism and Wildlife 110 Here’s how to help your kids break in East Africa’s health sector As he leads the team, CS Balala is the man out of their pandemic bubble and 24 Justin Bedan Muturi - Speaker of the country has invested tremendous trust in BEYOND BUSINESS South Africa’s romcom revolution the National Assembly of Kenya to steer the sector towards a recovery path transition back to being with others 130 and then growth, after the devastating effect and how it reimagines Joburg 28 Allan Kilavuka - MD/ occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic. SPECIAL FEATURE 146 Will coronavirus really evolve to become less deadly? CEO Kenya Airways Plc 60 COMMENTARY 32 Amb. Dr. Paul Muthaura MBS - CEO Fiona Asonga - CEO Technology 112 How can all schools safely reopen? 64 86 LAST WORD - Cabinet Secretary Sports, ICEA Lion General Insurance Service Providers of Kenya 132 We must make moral Heritage and Culture 116 Kenya has its first female chief choices about how we relate 68 Githii Mburu CBS - Commissioner 90 Kendi Ntwiga - Country justice: why this matter to social media apps Coronavirus variants: 36 Joseph Mucheru - Cabinet General Kenya Revenue Authority Leader-Kenya Microsoft how did they evolve and Secretary Ministry of ICT, 118 Restricting digital media is a 134 New drugs work against what do they mean? Innovation and Youth Affairs 72 Geoffrey Odundo - CEO 94 Isis Nyong’o Madison - gamble for African leaders the many strains of hepatitis C Although not all the mutations are thought Securities Exchange (NSE) Principal Asphalt & Ink found in African countries to be important, the effect of any individual 40 Prof. George Magoha - Cabinet mutation might be changed by the presence 74 Dr. Rakesh Rao - Group CEO 120 As press freedom continues of other mutations (an effect called epistasis). Secretary Education 96 Dr. Anastasia Nyalita - CEO, to struggle in Kenya, OPINION Crown Paints Kenya Plc Kenya Healthcare Federation 150 44 Crispin Achola - BAT Kenya alternatives keep hope alive Managing Director & East 78 Hussein Ibrahim - MD&CEO 98 Sanda Ojiambo - CEO/ED United Inchcape Kenya SECTOR REVIEW 136 Covid in India: the deep-rooted Africa General Manager Nations Global Compact issues behind the current crisis 48 Dr. Joseph Kinyua, EGH - Mary W. Kimonye, MBS - 122 We gathered rich insights Head of Public Service Principal Secretary State into child survival in Kenya by 138 US-backed vaccine patent Department for Public Service mapping patterns over 22 years waiver: Pros and cons explained 52 Nzioka Waita - State Mary Kimonye possesses special competencies House Chief of Staff that include country marketing and branding, 126 Conflating morality and 140 Covid vaccines: why waiving strategy development, public policy, project patents won’t fix global management, training and capacity building the law do South Africa’s 56 - Cabinet Secretary shortage – scientist explains Lands and Physical Planning and organizational development (OD). 100 governing party no good

2 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 3 ANNIVESARY EDITION Publisher’s Note

formational leadership traits whose effects Selection criteria for Top spill and permeate the entire spectrum of the country or industry or sector or field of operation. 25 Most Transformative The men and women in the public service have proven many times and in PUBLISHER: Leaders to Watch in 2021 numerous work environments that they are Dr. Hanningtone Gaya [email protected] inspired and fired by entirely different set of 0722 742 287 From our analysis, these 25 men and women appear to share a compulsions than is the norm, and in most cases, beyond what is expected of them in EDITOR: common thread: they remain consistent in pursuing results in all the Martin O’Neil their call of duty. They singularly serve the public spaces they occupy, they display hard work, patience, focus and country; not working for their livelihoods, CONTRIBUTORS: diligence. And that in staying the course, these are the attributes of wealth and fame. Cathy Mputhia Mike Eldon leadership needed to transform institutions, systems and processes. From our analysis, these 25 men and Scott Bellows women appear to share a common thread: Lennox Yieke Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) who are making they remain consistent in pursuing results Anzetse Were a mark and leaving indelible foot prints on in all the public spaces they occupy, they Jeff Aludo the state surfaces they are treading, leaving display hard work, patience, focus and PUBLISHED BY: behind transformed services and systems diligence. And that in staying the course, The Knowledge Warehouse that impact and improve the environment these are the attributes of leadership need- 0722 742 287 of doing business, building in efficiency and ed to transform institutions, systems and 0720 742 287 effectiveness of operations, hence, improv- processes. DESIGN & LAYOUT: ing the life of Kenyans and growing the Hence, our desire at Business Monthly Fontana Creations economy. Others are men and women who East Africa, firmly remains in bringing MIS & ADMINISTRATION: have turned around the destiny of the to the public domain, acknowledgements Marilene Mercy nation at critical moments of history. Fifth, are men and women leading impacting all the spheres of business to of these successes and achievements and 0722 420 493 The second are men and women thrust beyond their call of duty, and acting as keep the country moving, while engaging above all, promote the pursuit for excel- Hans Arden 0720 742 287 with the responsibility of transforming thought leaders, Policy interventionists and the policy makers, government authorities lence, as the keystone for transformative public services and turning around the hands-on managers in their respective sec- and the country at large through presence leadership. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT institutional images of strategic national tors to help the country manage the Covid- and participation in influential mainstream In humility, we also note that for each MANAGER: Martin O’Neil institutions and are actually succeeding in 19 Pandemic. public media, meetings and webinars. of the 25 named in the Top 25 Most 0721 989 263 these mandates (Kenya Revenue Authority Last, but not the least, men and women In a nutshell, the achievements of these Transformative CEOs to Watch in 2021, (KRA) and the National Youth Service with their fingers on all the important men and women, have lifetime positive there are hundreds deserving and not yet ADVERTISING: DR HANNINGTONE GAYA Dr. Hanningtone Gaya (NYS). touch points of the nation, influencing and effects on the economic recovery and sus- recognized. This is life and with patience, [email protected] CEO - The Knowledge Warehouse Kenya The third are CEOs in the private sec- tainable growth of the country. your turn will come. 0722 742 287 tor, who have recently taken new jobs that Unique, additionally, is that those To those who remain elusive and DISTRIBUTED BY: require innovative strategies, new vision in shortlisted, were requested to tell their own unreachable when approached, we respect The men and women All Times his issue’s TOP 25 Recognition and leadership, not only in the organizations, stories. The final write ups were then slight- your choice, style and reasons. Most prob- Ground Floor, Village Market Nominations, is unique and rich but beyond, and are actually showing trans- in the public service ly edited and recreated for house style and ably, you are yet to meet the criteria to 0717 866 009 in its diversity. We have men and formational results while breaking national have proven many times to ensure each story is served differently in be on such an honourable list of publicly [email protected] women from mainstream public ser- boundaries and barriers to competition. and in numerous work narration and presentation. accountable leaders, or alternatively, you CONTENT: Tvice, independent institutions, all the three The fourth category are CEOs who have Not being repetitive, but for emphasis, have good reasons to shy away from media Produced under common licence arms of government, private sector, busi- in a very short span of time, shown their environments that they the contributions of these men and women and therefore public scrutiny. It is also your from The Conversation ness lobby groups, Global ICT brands and teeth in transforming how things ought that propels them to this honourable wall right to privacy. So, relax. BusinessMonthly are inspired and fired by www.theknowledgewarehouseke.com the United Nations (UN). to be done in their respective industries, entirely different set of of recognition and appreciation, are rang For those of you who willingly consent- First, is a number of men and women including in manufacturing, one of the Top from a wide spectrum and over a longer ed to be on this list, we thank you profusely who have been selected more for their 4 priority development agenda, including compulsions than is the period of time, rather than or in addition for your humility in letting Kenya document transformational leadership attributes taking courage to introduce new processes, norm, and in most cases, to single contributions, although the recog- some of you and celebrate you. Consider that transcend more than one initiative products and services, despite taking over beyond what is expected of nitions have been prompted by the recency this recognition as a public endorsements or discipline that needed courage, clarity their new assignments in this devastating effect: the latest memorable achievement or and appreciation for your work and the of purpose and personal focus, to achieve environment fraught with negative effects them in their call of duty performance or appointment to a new office time that you continue to give beyond your a turnaround. This criterion brings in the arising from the Covid-19 Pandemic. or organization, and the display of trans- call of duty. ©THEKNOWLEDGEWAREHOUSE 2021

4 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 5 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business

#1 Dr. Fred Matiang’i, EGH

CABINET SECRETARY INTERIOR AND COORDINATION OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT For all the diverging views on Dr. baggage, constituents to please or political Matiang’i, the common link is that he is ambitions to protect, allowing him to give his unanimously viewed as the single most defin- undivided attention to the task at hand, which ing figure in President Kenyatta’s administra- at the time was overseeing Kenya’s switch ver the past eight years, Dr. Fred tion. Westlands Member of Parliament, Tim from analogue to digital broadcasting and Matiang’i has built an enviable Wanyonyi, summarized it aptly in a press arti- helping newly elected President Uhuru to start career in public service, earning cle reviewed by Business Monthly: “Matiang’i fulfilling his election pledges and the newly a reputation as a daring, transfor- is among, if not, the best performing Cabinet acquired political mandate. Omative and reformist leader. The Cabinet Secretaries (CSs). If you asked anyone on Secretary for Interior & Coordination of the streets out there to name for you the 22 Digital dividends National Government is a man admired members of the current Cabinet, the first one The switch-over to digital broadcasting was and envied in equal measure, depending will be Matiang’i and maybe only one or two anything but easy. Planning for digital migra- on which side of the political spectrum one others.” tion started in 2006 with a deadline for 2015. holds. CS Matiang’i’s rise in the public sec- The migration was a lengthy and costly To the President and his colleagues tor started in 2013 when President Uhuru process, requiring investments from the gov- in the cabinet, Dr. Matiang’i is a trusted Kenyatta, keen on accelerating the digi- ernment, broadcasters, and consumers. It was advisor and industrious lieutenant who tal transformation kick-started by former also a complex process from policy, legal and has not only streamlined service deliv- President Kibaki, tapped him from academia regulatory perspectives. The new broadcasting ery in government, but also spearhead- to head the ICT ministry. Unlike most cabi- licensing framework faced opposition from ed transformative reforms in key sectors net appointees, the former literature lecturer media stakeholders, who slugged it out all the such as ICT, Lands, Education, Regional at the and Egerton way to the Supreme Court. While the apex Administration, Immigration Services, University had not held prior roles in elective court ruled in favour of the government, litiga- Internal Security, and lately, co-ordination politics or the public service. This quickly tion had delayed the digital migration process of the governments development agenda. worked to his advantage. He had no prior by three years. To rogue elements within and outside the government, he is a feared operator who has dismantled cartels and brought to bear A lot of thriving internet-based businesses operating the full might of the government on the in Kenya today-whether in e-commerce, transport and fight against inefficiency, ineffectiveness, service lethargy, crime and corruption. delivery, media or entertainment-owe a great deal of their growth to the digital switch over and the man who laid the groundwork for its successful implementation, Dr. Matiang’i

6 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 7 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business

In his now signature fashion, CS He also ended the power tiffs often as the CS for Interior and Co-ordination of Matiang’i was able to successfully deliver pitting the Lands Ministry against the National Government. The rest is history. on key components of this critical process National Land Commission, ending in sta- President also demon- despite the difficult circumstances. This bilizing the Lands ship that impacts so strated his trust on Dr Matiang’i when made him a key contributor to the digital much of personal and corporate business he appointed him the chairman of the dividends we take for granted today, with activities. National Development Implementation those now reaping the most having been the The trailblazing CS Matiang’i was and Communication Cabinet Committee, biggest digital migration detractors. later appointed as the Cabinet Secretary arguably elevating him to a super CS Digital migration opened a world of for Education, Science and Technology in status, a first among equals or as his new opportunities in the digital economy. December 2015. His appointment came at detractors would want to say, unofficial This is because digital broadcasting accom- a time the education sector was awash with prime minister. modates more television channels than massive leakages in National Examinations. According to authenticated reports, analogue broadcasting while also using less At the Ministry of Education, Matiang’i HE President Uhuru and Dr. Fred spectrum bandwidth. The freed-up spec- effectively dismantled examination cartels Matiang’i first met and developed some trum bandwidth is what allowed for the that had infiltrated the Kenya National rapport when Uhuru was then the leader rapid deployment of 4G and 4G LTE across Examinations Council and profited by leak- of Opposition. Matiang’i was by then the country in recent years, making fast and ing exam papers to schools and candidates in charge of the Kenya Parliamentary affordable internet a reality and attracting and brought credibility, effectiveness and Support Programme (KPSP) which was big ticket investments in the technology efficiency in the handling and administer- financing the parliamentary broadcasting startup ecosystem. Kenya today is the ing of the National exams, leading to clean service and digitizing the proceedings. leading destination for startup investments results for the first time in many years in Their friendship blossomed when Uhuru in Africa. According to a report by Startup 2016. Famously, results from the Kenya Kenyatta was the Deputy prime minister List Africa, Kenya led the way with $266 Certificate of Secondary Education nation- in the coalition Government. million in startup investments in 2020, al examination are now released within a In year 2013, President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of Nigeria ($237 million), South month of their being held. having seen the potential in Matiang’i, Africa ($198 million), Egypt ($125 million) poached him from the position of Eastern and Ghana ($90 million). This underlines Tragedy strikes Africa Regional Representative for the the impact of the digital switch over on the In June 2017, towards the end of President Center for International Development in economy, and one of the economic benefits Before his appointment to Kenyatta’s first term, tragedy struck. Major the State University of New York (SUNY) of the hands on and focused management the government in 2013, General (Retired) Joseph Nkaissery, the and brought him into the government style of delivering on public services by CS then CS for Interior, passed on, just before as the CS in the ICT Ministry, where Dr. Dr. Fred Matiang’i. Dr. Matiang’i was the the General Elections. The stakes couldn’t Matiang’i pushed the unwilling media to A lot of thriving internet-based busi- Regional Representative have been any higher and, once again, the adopt the digital migration and ruled out nesses operating in Kenya today-whether in in East Africa for the President turned to the man he trusts with turning back to analogue, as the deadline Association, the World Bank Institute, e-commerce, transport and delivery, media the hardest of tasks. In a somber statement, to digital migration loomed. and the United Nations Development Centre for International According to authenticated or entertainment-owe a great deal of their he announced that, “I take this opportunity reports, HE President Uhuru and Programme (UNDP) among others. This growth to the digital switch over and the Development, Rockefeller this morning to inform Kenyans that there A man of all seasons is besides lecturing at Egerton University Dr. Fred Matiang’i first met and man who laid the groundwork for its suc- College of Public Affairs shall be no vacuum in securing our coun- Before his appointment to the govern- and the University of Nairobi. cessful implementation, Dr. Matiang’i. try. I have taken the decision to appoint ment in 2013, Dr. Matiang’i was the developed some rapport when Dr. Matiang’i holds a PhD in and Policy, the State Dr Matiang’i the acting CS for Internal Regional Representative in East Africa for Uhuru was then the leader of Communication and Comparative Dr. Fix it University of New York Security to ensure there is no vacuum”. the Centre for International Development, Opposition. Matiang’i was by Literature from the University of Nairobi, CS Matiang’i’s accomplishments at the Never one to back down from a chal- Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and then in charge of the Kenya a Master of Arts degree in English from ICT Ministry quickly caught the eye of the lenge, CS Matiang’i accepted the appoint- Policy, the State University of New York Parliamentary Support Programme the University of Nairobi, and a Bachelor President, who roped him in as acting CS brief as it was equally eventful. He imme- ment and took control of the national secu- (SUNY/CID). He previously served as (KPSP) which was financing the of Education degree from Kenyatta for Lands in 2015 after the exit of Hon. diately decimated notorious cartels that rity apparatus at a very defining moment Chief of Party for Kenya’s Parliamentary parliamentary broadcasting service University. (current Governor). had entrenched themselves at Ardhi House in the country’s history. The 2017 elections Strengthening Program where he spear- All through his career, Dr. Matiang’i This was one of the earliest signs that and set in motion a slew of reforms. He is were hotly contested with cases of months- headed the creation of Parliament’s media and digitizing the proceedings. has proven to be a man of all seasons— the overarching and overachieving CS was credited with championing for Kihiu Mwiri long protests in opposition strongholds. center. Their friendship blossomed when adaptable, driven, agile. He also proven quickly transitioning into the President’s settlers in Kakuzi to be issued with long However, calm and order eventually pre- Dr. Matiang’i held research and pro- Uhuru Kenyatta was the Deputy to be a pragmatist, favoring actions and “Dr. Fix it,” mode, a somewhat first-among- awaited title deeds and was instrumental in vailed. At this point, it was clear in every- gram implementation positions in vari- prime minister in the coalition results over talk. He’s certainly a public equals in the cabinet. laying the groundwork for similar issuances one’s mind that CS Matiang’i was the man ous civil society organizations in Kenya Government. servant worth watching and one who is CS Matiang’i’s tenure at the Lands at the Coastal Region and other disputed for the job. Shortly after the election, Dr. and conducted research and training not easily intimidated or influenced by and Physical Planning Ministry was as land cases in the former Central Province. Fred Matiang’i was appointed substantively for the Commonwealth Parliamentary politics.

8 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 9 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business

ince joining Safaricom PLC as the first Managing major transitions is a criticalleader’s job (both indigenous Kenyan CEO on April 1, 2020, 1. personal and professional). It needs careful thought, a Peter Ndegwa has introduced a new lead- clear vision and remarkable resilience. ership style that is targeted to inform- In times of crisis, lead with purpose and follow your Sing the stakeholders of his thoughts in building 2. intuition when making decisions. Tap into your previous Safaricom into a customer obsessed firm. Towards experiences and do not wait for all the facts to guide you as this end, Peter has consistently published seminal they will not always be there. articles in the authoritative Business Daily and the Teams can do anything when challenged positively. For Daily Nation newspapers towards this end. 3. people to deliver their best, you need to communicate As one of the latest entrants into the top ech- clear goals and install a sense of mission in a purposeful way elon of business leadership in Kenya, we share to ensure that everyone actively works towards achieving it. Peter’s thoughts as captured in some of these Do not underestimate the power of partnerships. We articles. 4. worry too much about competition when there is so Of most note and one of the latest that was much more power when we collaborate. Covid-19 pandemic published on April 1, 2021, Peter shares 10 forced us to come together and collaborate on matters that Leadership Lessons Learned in Transition Amidst benefit society as a whole, and I think we should definitely A Crisis, the exact title of the article. He wrote: do this more often. Today marks one year since I joined Safaricom The customer is king, and is even ore important in these PLC, and I can’t help but be filled with a deep 5. uncertain times we are currently living in. Customers sense of gratitude both as a leader and as an will remember how you made them feel in times of crisis, and individual. I am truly grateful for a smooth and it was important for us to stand with Kenyans and cushion successful transition back to Kenya and into the them against the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. company, and I am happy to be part of this won- Covid-19 reminded us of the power of purpose and as a derful family. It has been a tough year for humanity 6. purpose-led organization, we are dedicated to transform- and business, but I am thankful for good health ing lives, ensuring we leave no one behind. and a good support system. Deal with the crisis, but also continue to build the As I take stock of this past year, I would like to 7. future. Despite the uncertainty we face, maintain a sense share 10 things I have learnt along the way: of mission and be devoted to achieving it.

#2 Peter Ndegwa CEO SAFARICOM PLC We recently launched 5G and I must say there are immense opportunities ahead of us. Our inspiration to innovate continues to be our Brand purpose - Transforming Lives. It is with this in mind, that we have launched 5G- a truly transformational innovation in technology.

10 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 11 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business

consumers, MSMEs and large organisa- tions alike. Whatever our future holds, you can bet on one thing, Safaricom is committed to being your trusted companion as we ‘Go We must create a Beyond’ into the world of 5G. Turning to ‘How businesses can mindset of leading become a powerful force for the SDGs’ from purpose to quote the title of the article, Peter that will enable penned the following: During the 2019 us to accelerate UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary the delivery General called on all sectors of the soci- of sustainable ety to collaborate if we are to achieve businesses. We must the implementation of the Sustainable borrow and share Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The year 2020 marked the beginning the best practices of the Decade of Action - a reaffirmation on how we can of the global commitment through accel- pool together and erated efforts and sustainable solutions manage resources, to the world’s biggest challenges, ranging be visionary and from eradicating poverty, reducing gender ethical.” inequality to addressing climate change. Before the onset of Covid-19, the world was already lagging behind in the achieve- ment of critical milestones. This is evi- As we navigate through the Covid- much faster data download and upload denced by the rise in the number of people 8. 19 pandemic, the role of leaders has speeds by allowing far more devices to suffering from food insecurity. The number changed in this new world of working The digital divide-gaps in access to access the internet at the same time. This was at 690 million in 2019, which is an from home and virtual meetings. Keeping information and communication is an investment that we anticipate all our 8.7% increase compared to 2014. connected while we are apart is an even technology-has seen many left 30+M customers with smart phones and a Climate change is also occurring more bigger imperative as we ensure that busi- out of the digital landscape. The digital lifestyle will relish. A new era of the rapidly than anticipated, with 2019 being ness continues as usual. It is ok not to know Covid-19 pandemic brought forth Internet of Things (IoT) in Kenya is about the second warmest year in the decade. cannot succeed in isolation. For business leaders to discuss how to tackle some everything but lead with empathy and have this reality given the need to work to kick off with aplomb. Eradication of extreme poverty has slowed to effectively support the achievement of of the most pressing challenges of this the courage to deal with situations as they from home using platforms that ICT With 5G, whatever we do now with our in pace, with projections showing that 6 the SDGs, a shift in the leadership mindset decade. occur. provides but, unfortunately were smartphones we’ll be able to do faster and per cent of the global population will still and redefining of business models is also We recently held the second edition We can adapt to any change never better, but what’s really exciting is all the live-in extreme poverty by 2030. required. of the series and it was great listening to not available to everyone. 9. allow anyone to say you cannot. The new services that will be built and the many Kenya, just like many other developing We must create a mindset of leading and participating in discussions with other situation may seem grim, but we must opportunities that will arise especially for countries, is lagging in the achievement of from purpose that will enable us to accel- local business leaders around how we can remain optimistic and work towards a key SDGs. According to the 2020 country erate the delivery of sustainable business- work together with other business leaders better future. SDGs index rankings, Kenya emerged es. We must borrow and share the best to achieve the SDGs. In this social media age, listen for position 123 out of 193 members of the practices on how we can pool together The discussion also focused on lead- 10. real feedback but learn to filter UN with notable progress on only 2 out of and manage resources, be visionary and ership approaches needed in the private and depersonalise the “noise”. the 17 SDGs; Climate Action and Decent ethical. sector for business to meet the challenge Work and Economic Growth. To achieve the SDGs, we must take of building more resilient and sustainable On 5G, Peter wrote: We recently At the current pace, Kenya risks miss- collective action by consistently engaging societies. launched 5G and I must say there are ing out achieving its key aspirations by like-minded business partners and spur- Each of us, whether as individuals or immense opportunities ahead of us. Our 2030 such as achieving food security, ring actions geared towards achievement organisations, both small and large, can inspiration to innovate continues to be our universal health coverage and reducing of the goals. Hence, the launch of the and should play a role in bringing sustain- Brand purpose - Transforming Lives. It is the unemployment levels among the youth. ‘Sustainable Future Series’. Peter writes ability to the forefront. We remain commit- with this in mind, that we have launched To turn the table, we must harness that: ted to collaborate with all stakeholders to 5G- a truly transformational innovation the critical input of the private sector To help us in driving this, we launched help advance the SDGs. in technology. 5G is the next generation because in our aspiration to create a more the Safaricom Sustainable Future series, When we commit to sustainable busi- of mobile internet connection and offers sustainable society, we realize that we which aims to bring together business ness, we create a virtuous circle – good

12 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 13 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business

for customers, good for employees, lihoods of many. Businesses are also deriv- good for business, good for the planet and ing huge benefits from digital technology, good for the future. enabling them to grow, create jobs and As the private sector and as respon- enjoy more economic benefits. sible corporate citizens, the best way to push the sustainability agenda forward We must get more people online is by incorporating the SDGs in how we The last two decades have demonstrated run our businesses. After all, doing good is that placing the mobile phone in the hands good for business. of as many people as possible, connected When Ban Ki Moon, the former UN to fast and reliable internet, can be trans- Secretary General officially launched the formative. Currently, GSMA, the industry SDGs, he said: “This is the people’s agen- association that represents interests of da. It is a plan of action for ending poverty mobile network operators globally, esti- in all its dimensions, irreversibly, every- mates that the industry contributes nine where, leaving no one behind.” We remain per cent of African economies’ GDP, with committed to ensure that we leave no one the ecosystem supporting 650,000 indi- behind and this Sustainable Future Series viduals formally and another 1.4 million which we hold every 3 months is part of informally. that commitment. A firm infrastructural foundation has On market internet penetration, Peter been laid and the benefits are there to be wrote: Over two decades ago, the mobile realized. Now is the time to quicken the phone in Kenya was a novel gadget for pace of actualizing universal access to staying in touch on the go, through calls mobile technology. and short messages. Today, it does a lot On Public-private partnerships, Peter more than just communication. It has wrote that these are crucial to accelerate emerged as an effective tool for tackling development. He says in the article that: technology and innovation, making the society’s most pressing challenges, facili- Partnerships with government, business A firm infrastructural foundation need for sustained efforts to close the tating inclusive and sustainable develop- and organizations, both local and inter- digital divide more urgent. We have an ment. national, are an important cornerstone of has been laid and the benefits are opportunity-through the Africa.Connected But not everyone has benefited. While affordable devices and empowering Micro Through the campaign, we invite govern- continued success in digitalization. A col- there to be realized. Now is the time campaign-to jointly rewrite the script and the mobile industry in sub-Saharan Africa and Small business to use technology to ments, industry, business and civil society to laborative approach is key for a future that to quicken the pace of actualizing close the digital gap. We need to come has largely risen to the challenge of keep- grow their businesses. The initiative will collaborate with us to ensure we bring ICT is fair, inclusive and sustainable. Initiatives universal access to mobile together telcos, governments and social ing individuals and businesses connected help boost the continent to be more com- products and services closer to the people such as the African Union Commission’s technology. sector institutions, to expand and broaden – nearly 800 million people in the region petitive, resilient, inclusive and sustainable. without the access. digital transformation strategy and the digital offerings, foster an enabling envi- are still not connected to the internet. To this end, Safaricom is committed UN Digital Cooperation Roadmap provide ronment for rapid digitisation and speed The digital divide-gaps in access to to continue working with Government, the frameworks for how this could progress. up infrastructure investments. information and communication technol- The digital divide-gaps in industry and social sector institutions to Alliances and collaborations can help And crown it all, Peter has just led a ogy-has seen many left out of the digi- access to information and expand and broaden digital offerings, foster unlock greater benefit for all and acceler- ent industries and sectors beyond financial consortium of multinational firms to win tal landscape. The Covid-19 pandemic an enabling environment for rapid digitaliza- ate economic progress. Take the ongoing services, it remains a platform around Ethiopia’s licence bid on Ksh 91.8 bn offer, brought forth this reality given the need communication technology- tion and speed up infrastructure investments. strategic partnership between Safaricom which ecosystems can coalesce. a historic Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to work from home using platforms that has seen many left out and Google to make 4G devices afford- Over the last two decades, Safaricom for Ethiopia. Safaricom Plc, under Peter ICT provides but, unfortunately were not of the digital landscape. Connectivity is an economic imperative able to low-income earners through daily has grown to be more than just a mobile Ndegwa, is venturing into new frontiers in available to everyone. This calls for proven innovative approaches payments, for instance. It targets almost service provider. We have morphed into a telecommunication and financial services In answering the question, ‘How then The Covid-19 pandemic such as mobile money for sustainable devel- 15 million customers who are still on 2G digital lifestyle enabler by leveraging on in this year of his leadership at Safaricom do we ensure we leave no one behind?’, brought forth this reality opment. Mobile money has driven financial in the next couple of years. This seeks to partnerships and collaborations to trans- Plc, dubbed the year of Twende Tukiuke! the CEO of Safaricom stated in the arti- given the need to work inclusion in Kenya, catapulting it from single address the upfront cost of devices, which form lives. Our next phase is geared Ethiopia has hitherto been a very dif- cle, ‘Safaricom is working closely with digit at the turn of the century to over 80% hinders these customers from tapping into towards being more customer obsessed ficult market to break into, and this feat Vodafone and Vodacom teams across from home using platforms now. Studies have demonstrated that mobile benefits of the high-speed internet current- by facilitating technology growth for our speaks volume of this soft spoken, vision- Africa to close the digital divide through that ICT provides but, money has helped lift many individuals out ly available in many parts of the country. customers, driving greater experience and ary, highly intelligent, sharp and witty lead the recently launched Africa.Connected unfortunately were not of poverty and improve their quality of life. Today, M-PESA is arguably the back- ensuring that we leave no one behind in honcho in Kenya’s corporate space, Peter initiative. The continent-wide campaign In Kenya, the internet is mostly accessed bone of our digital economy, facilitating the digital era. Ndegwa. Peter is Kenya’s first native to be seeks to accelerate economic recovery by available to everyone via the mobile phone and has opened new payments, transfers and micro-lending. As The fourth industrial revolution is appointed the CEO of Safaricom Plc, in the driving digital inclusion, enabling access of revenue opportunities and enhanced the live- it evolves and finds applications in differ- here. It is expected to ride on digital firm’s 20 year-corporate history.

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ady Justice Martha Koome’s works in her favour, as she takes the between1993-1996 and as the inau- historic appointment as Kenya’s helm as the head of the third estate gural treasurer of the East Africa Law first female Chief Justice (CJ) in Kenya. Society between 1994-1996. and President of the Supreme During her tenure at the Law LCourt is a giant step forward in the Career highlights Society of Kenya, she took a lead- #3 push for greater efficiency and reforms After studying law at the University ing role in constitutional and legal in the higher ranks of the Judiciary. of Nairobi and graduating from the reforms, and was part of the consti- The accomplished court of appeal Kenya School of Law, she was admit- tutional review process as a delegate Lady Justice judge since her appointment on ted to the Bar as an Advocate of the at the Bomas of Kenya, where she January 2012, who beat off stiff com- of Kenya in 1986 and co-chaired the thematic area on the Martha petition from nine other formidable started her career as a legal associate Bill of Rights. candidates, including fellow judges, before starting her own firm in 1993 Lady CJ Martha Koome is a found- prominent lawyers in private prac- where she was the managing partner ing member and was Chair of the Koome tice and law scholars, has built an until joining the bench in 2003. Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), illustrious career in the legal profes- The new Lady CJ cut her teeth one of the leading human rights orga- CHIEF JUSTICE AND PRESIDENT sion spanning 33 years. Prior to her in private practice representing very nizations in the country. She champi- OF THE SUPREME COURT appointment to the Court of Appeal, sensitive political detainees such as oned the establishment of the family Lady CJ served as Puisne Judge for former Prime Minister , division of the High Court, as well as over eight years. when he was opposing repression the enactment of laws to protect the In the same year she was appoint- under the late president Daniel Arap property rights of women in marriages ed as Court of Appeal Judge, she was elected the Chairperson of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association. In 2016, she was among the female candidates shortlisted by the JSC for the Deputy Chief Justice position. From the look of things, the new CJ was calm and confident during her four-hour televised interview conduct- ed by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on April 14, 2021, earning her the admiration of many Kenyans who The new Lady CJ cut her teeth in private practice representing very followed the interviews live on national sensitive political detainees such as former Prime Minister Raila TV and online, leading to her unani- Odinga, when he was opposing repression under the late president mous nomination on April 27, 2021 by in the 1980s and 90s, cases that the faint hearted of the JSC as the country’s 15th CJ and the third under the 2010 Constitution. lawyers would not touch those days. Lady CJ Martha Koome’s record on children and gender rights in par- Moi in the 1980s and 90s, cases that and family and the equal treatment ticular and her role in drafting Kenya’s the faint hearted of lawyers would not and rights for all children. Lady CJ 2010 Constitution, in particular the touch those days. Lady CJ Koome also is an acclaimed expert in family law Bill of Rights, stood out. The Bill of had a test of judicial activism as one and takes a keen interest in the wel- Rights outlaws discrimination against of the young and courageous lawyers fare of children. In 1995, for instance, women, allow children to derive citi- involved in the clamour for multi-par- Lady CJ was appointed by the African zenship from their mothers for the first tism by campaigning for the repeal of Union meeting of heads of state as a time and limits discriminatory custom- Section 2A of the constitution which Commissioner to the African Committee ary laws on women’s property rights. made the country a one-party state. on the Rights and Welfare of Children. In addition, Lady CJ Martha She has consistently campaigned for She has also served as the Koome’s exemplary track record in the independence of the judiciary. Chairperson of the National Council expediting the administration of jus- Keen on influencing the legal on the Administration of Justice spe- tice and in particular, clearing of case profession in Kenya more actively, cial taskforce on children matters backlogs, a perennial challenge, if she served as a council member of where she helped steer the review of not an excuse affecting the Judiciary, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) the Children’s Act.

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After more than a decade in pri- vate practice, Lady CJ Koome joined the bench in 2003 following her appointment to the High Court by former President . For the next eight years, she head- ed the land and environmental courts in Nairobi and was a resident judge in Nakuru and Kitale before serving in the commercial and family divisions of the High Court in Nairobi. While at Nakuru and Kitale she was able to clear massive backlogs of cases at a fast pace not witnessed before in courts Kenya and Africa as a whole. Lady CJ led the Nakuru Law Court in starting a Court User Committee which is now a structure acknowledged in the administration of justice. She also ensured litigants in far-flung areas of Kakuma and Lokichar got justice as she operated mobile court stations to make it easier for witness- es who traversed many kilometers to come to court in Kitale. “I used to go to Kakuma myself where witnesses were not able to come and I cov- Lady Justice Martha Koome during the interview. Photo | JSC ered that entire bordering frontier that cov- ered Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia. I rights of women and children in the justice and mother of three, Lady CJ Koome comes was able to foster partnership with devel- system. She has also been an active and from very humble beginnings. She defied opment partners and I am proud my efforts long-standing member of the International the circumstances and showed great prom- resulted in the construction of a Court Association of Women Judges – Kenya ise in school, topping her class at Mugoiri station in Kakuma working closely with Chapter, which focuses on access to justice Girls High School before proceeding to the UNHCR,” said the soft-spoken Lady Justice for women and children. University of Nairobi. during her nationally televised interview She is a certified trainer on human “I grew up in a humble peasant fam- with the JSC panel. rights by the International Institute for ily. We were 18 children. My father was a Lady CJ Martha Koome obtained her Justice in Malta, the Commonwealth polygamist and I was my mother’s eighth Master’s in Public International Law from Secretariat, and the International Women child. My leadership orientation started the University of London in 2010. Two Judges Association. In this role, she has early, I started mimicking my mother to years later, she was promoted to the Court trained many including as a visiting lec- see how I could help reduce the burden. of Appeal in 2012. Her first major decision turer at the Judicial Training Institute and Because of her commitment, I was able to on the appellate court saw her break ranks Strathmore University. go to school and reach where I am today. with her four colleagues on the bench That training grounded me well,” she told hearing the appeal on the date of the first Humble beginnings the JSC panel during her interview. elections under the new Constitution. Interestingly, for someone with so many Justice Koome has been a role model One of her hallmarks at the Court of remarkable achievements, Lady CJ Koome and a keynote speaker in many forums Appeal, is her sharp focus on expediting the has also had her fair share of disappoint- mostly advancing the values of family and administration of justice. Along with her ments. She applied twice for the deputy CJ sharing her own experiences of how to bal- fellow judges in the central town of Nyeri, position – the latest being in 2016 when ance career growth, work and family. she has been applauded for clearing a five- Justice Philomena Mwilu clinched the posi- That is Lady CJ Martha Karambu year backlog of cases. tion – and did not get it. Had she given Koome, a Chief Justice with the intellect, Justice Koome’s achievements have up then, she would have today not been presence, gait and the walk expected of a won her supporters in Kenya and around Kenya’s top jurist. Chief Justice. Her appointment is seen as the world. Last year, she was honoured as a Obstacles and challenges, it appears, a boon for reforming the business environ- UN Kenya Person of the Year runner-up in don’t dampen Lady CJ Koome’s spirits but ment in Kenya that is currently weighed 2020 for her advocacy to improve the legal rather embolden her to try again. A wife down by the slow wheels of justice.

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propel her for a steep national leadership In support of the health sector, KEPSA Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) is one ascent. through its Health Sector Board-Kenya of the main partners working with KEPSA #4 For the rest of 2021 and early 2022, Healthcare Federation donated Personal to drive the Public-Private Dialogue Pillar. Carole leads KEPSA with the mantra, Protective Equipment worth millions of The first pillar aims to promote sus- ‘Emerging economically stronger together: shillings to a number of counties including tainable and inclusive economic growth, Carole Kariuki Living with Covid-19 and the new world Kajiado, Mombasa and Machakos as it strengthen economic foundations local- order’. continues to seek ways of expanding this ly, regionally and globally, support busi- The Kenya Private Sector Alliance initiative to other counties. ness-friendly policy laws at National and -Karuga (KEPSA) is the apex body of the private In a bid to facilitate economic recovery County Levels and strengthen firm-level sector registered in 2003. It was formed in 2021 and sustain it in 2022, KEPSA productive capacities and value chains in CEO KENYA PRIVATE SECTOR to drive yearly economic development has identified 5 key pillars in the imple- growth centres: agriculture, light manu- ALLIANCE (KEPSA) through facilitating improvements in the mentation of the recovery strategy. These facturing and tourism. All these objectives business sector, addressing cross-cutting pillars and their key focus areas include: are focused on improving Kenya’s ranking business issues, driving investments, and in global competitiveness and ease of addressing socio-economic issues with its 1. Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) doing business indexes with their indica- partners. KEPSA brings together over Pillar: tors incorporated and monitored in PPD ring-side member of a flamboyant 500,000 direct and indirect members • Global Competitiveness Index engagement matrices. coterie of witty, young and very organized through business associations, • Doing Business Index So far, KEPSA has successfully part- learned women CEOs of multi-na- corporates, multinationals, small and nered with EU-Africa RISE Program to tional corporations (MNCs), global medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups 2. Sustainability Pillar: launch a Business Competitiveness Centre Abrands, international institutions, civil soci- to speak in one voice, working closely • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and develop a national competitiveness eties and business lobby organisations in with Government and other stakehold- • Green Economy strategy to guide the centre. The asso- Kenya that includes Phyllis Wakiaga, Lina ers through structured Public-Private • Blue Economy ciation also facilitated Tanzania-Kenya Githuka, Angela Ndambuki, Kendi Ntwiga, Dialogue (PPD) platforms and other • Climate Change business forum to address trade barriers Agnes Gathaiya, and Caroline Mukiira, to engagement mechanisms. affecting business in the region which name but a few, Carole Kariuki Karuga Since the outbreak of Covid-19, 3. Governance Pillar: was led by the two Presidents; the 7th has organically grown into one of Kenyans KEPSA has worked closely with the • Corporate Governance Tax Round Table with Kenya Revenue most dependable leader in the business government and other partners to cush- • National Leadership Authority Commissioner General aimed space. ion Kenyans and businesses particularly • Corruption at resolving tax administrative challeng- Calm and withdrawn when she first SMEs against the adverse effects of the es as well as holding five Ministerial took over the helm as CEO of the Kenya global Covid-19 pandemic. 4. Business Hub Pillar: Stakeholder Forums focusing on energy, Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Carole KEPSA developed priority inter- • SME Development petroleum and mining, public finance, has matured with time and exposure ventions to be pursued under KEPSA • Economic Diplomacy health and transport and infrastructure. to become the most mature, dependent, Economic Management Framework for The second pillar on Sustainability informed and organised business leader in Covid-19 Response, which were tabled 5. Social Pillar: aims to: accelerate transition to a green Kenya, objectively loyal to her country, to and adopted by the government to ensure • Jobs and Enterprise Development for economy by strengthening cooperation a fault. business continuity. The framework led by Youth and Women. between private and public sectors, devel- She has transformed an initially elitist KEPSA CEO Carole Kariuki Karuga was op the capacity of the private sector to and ego-centric big business lobby group determined to cushion the private sector incorporate sustainability practices into to one that is now attracting the likes of against the impact of Covid-19 on the their strategic plans and company ini- micro and start-up businesses, as misplaced Kenyan Economy. In addition, KEPSA Since the outbreak of tiatives, transition Sustainable Inclusive as these businesses are. From an organiza- developed protocols adopted by govern- Covid-19, KEPSA has Business-K program into KEPSA’s tion of business lobby associations, it is not ment to enable business continue with worked closely with the Knowledge Centre to champion for the uncommon to get individual members of their operations amidst the pandemic and adoption of green and blue economy prin- KEPSA, both small and large. enable the reopening of the economy. government and other ciples, climate change and sustainability in Carole Karuga’s frequent presence on KEPSA also set up a free toll call partners to cushion the private sector, create linkages between NTV, KTN and Citizen TV early morning center 1196 that provided information to Kenyans and businesses academia and private sector on green and late evening shows, have only served to the public and private sector on covid-19 growth, adaptation and mitigation to cli- endear her as an informed and most artic- response initiatives as well as providing a particularly SMEs against mate change and achievement of sustain- ulate panellist. Participation in local and platform through the ‘Wheels for Life’ pro- the adverse effects of the able development goals, enhance financing global webinars deliberating on practically gram for expectant mothers to access free global Covid-19 pandemic of green projects, promote implementation all aspects of policy formulation and proj- transport to a health facility during curfew and compliance to existing policies, action ect management and interventions help to hours and lockdown period. plans and laws on green economy,

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SDGs and climate change and finally employment and entrepreneurship for to promote trade and investments in the economic growth, champion women jobs blue economy sector. enterprise development, promote gender To implement this second pillar, KEPSA inclusivity and its mainstreaming, and effected staff and members training on sus- enhance access to finance and markets. tainability principles, circular economy and KEPSA is currently running several climate change adaptation and mitigation projects all aimed at providing the youth and partnered with Global Compact in and with the skillset and adopting effective usage of Action Manager funds to create their own business ven- tool that tracks implementation of SDGs in tures. The Ajira Digital Project was started organizations. in 2016 by the Ministry of ICT, Innovations The Environment, Water and Natural and Youth Affairs, which was funded by Resources Sector Board and SIB-K team are Rockefeller Foundation, with KEPSA as working with the Ministry of Environment the implementing partner focusing on cre- and Forestry to develop a communication ating awareness and training on online plan for Extended Producer Responsibility work, with a component of SMEs and KEPSA has financed MSME loans tise and immense knowledge are often Regulation (EPR) Sensitization project. mentorship. Around 8000 young people amounting to over Ksh40Million called upon to promote the association’s KEPSA is the co-chair of Kenya Partnering benefitted from this intervention. to 101 businesses within the past agenda of private sector growth. Taking all for Green Growth and the Global Goals In 2019, the second phase of this into account, KEPSA has taken a ring 2030 (P4G) platform wherein it has been AJIRA was launched with funding from year. Through a partnership with side seat in committees overseeing the dis- instrumental in transformative change and Mastercard Foundation under Young MasterCard Foundation Project, tribution and management of the Covid- innovation to deliver sustainable develop- African Work Initiative with KEPSA and KEPSA provided virtual training and 19 vaccines, to ensure that the process is ment. eMobilis as implementing partners with mentorship sessions to over 6,000 onboarded and implemented as effectively Third, is the Governance Pillar whose KEPSA focusing on job demand linkages participants. and as efficiently as possible. objective is to influence Kenyans to aspire both in private and public sectors. Since KEPSA serves as a federation of over to a better future and to strive for a great May 2020, the project under KEPSA 80 Associations and professional bod- Kenya, curb corruption in the private sec- has so far: linked about 20,000 youth ies-such as the Kenya Tourism Federation, tor and change the country’s narrative to various jobs in the digital eco-system, beneficiaries of this project are expected Federation of Kenya Employers, Kenya to a positive narrative focusing on the over 2000 MSMEs have benefitted from to be women. Association of Manufacturers, National four key areas of leadership, public safe- the program enabling them to expand To bring reforms to board diversity Federation of Jua Kali Associations, SME ty, global competitiveness, and blockchain their markets and realigning their internal and inclusivity, KEPSA partnered with Founders Association, Micro and Small integration into government systems. So competitiveness and market access for loans amounting to over Ksh40Million to strategies through various digital solutions the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM), Enterprises Federation, Fintech, TESPOK, far, KEPSA managed to secure a donation SMEs business growth, increase exports 101 businesses within the past year. and also established over 30 partnerships Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), and ASNET, Kenya Transporters Association, from Danish International Development regionally and globally and strengthen Through a partnership with MasterCard with various digital platforms to promote New Faces New Voices (NFNV) to under- Kenya Security Industry Association, Agency after the 2019 Anti-Corruption county economic blocs capacity to attract Foundation Project, KEPSA provided vir- outsourcing as core business strategy. take the 2020/2021 Board Diversity and Kenya Media Association, Kenya Tea Conference. investments. KEPSA has financed MSME tual training and mentorship sessions to The project has also worked with the Inclusion Survey, aimed at uncovering Growers Association, Kenya Flower KEPSA held a governance action meet- over 6,000 participants. These sessions are public sector in supporting its digitization how diversity influences decision making, Council, Kenya Bankers Association, ing in April 2021 which provided an oppor- still ongoing; hence the number of partici- efforts and is currently working with the productivity, innovation, and overall per- Kenya Health Federation , American tunity to engage other players and experts While overseeing all these pants keeps growing with each session. Judiciary in its digital reforms provid- formance in the workplace. The research Chamber of Commerce , British Chamber in the field of Governance in Kenya and activities, Carole Kariuki KEPSA has partnered with Zydii Africa ing opportunities to about 1000 youth findings will inform policy reforms on of Commerce, Retail Traders Association beyond, for purposes of learning and bor- Karuga maintains a busy and Grassroots Business Fund to offer tech- while addressing the ease of doing busi- diversity and inclusivity in private and , ICPAK, LSK among others, all with rowing from their best practices. KEPSA nical assistance through an online module to ness through improving judicial efficiency. public sectors in Kenya. large and small business members across signed an MoU with the Blue Company that event calendar, as she beneficiaries of the Mastercard Foundation Efforts are also underway to support the KEPSA remains very active on var- the country. will see them use the association as a plat- champions all private Covid-19 Recovery and Resilience Loan development of a blueprint of how gov- ious social media platforms like Twitter, KEPSA also host the Kenya Chapter form to create awareness around the fight sector engagements where Programme. ernment can outsource work to digital YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook, where of the International Chamber of Commerce against corruption and all its forms within KEPSA also partnered with Bill and platforms and freelancers in the country its successes and calls to action are con- (ICC) as a member. The Kenya National the private sector. her expertise and immense Melinda Gates Foundation to provide propelling the program’s vision of position veyed to those keen on the growth of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry The Business Hub Pillar focuses on knowledge are often called support and training on issues regarding Kenya as the leading Freelancing Hub in private sector and economic reform in (KNCCI) is a member of the ICC. enhancing resilience and growth of SMEs upon to promote the Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Africa. Kenya. KEPSA serves as the focal point of for wealth and job creation, enhance MSME The fifth and final pillar, the Social The project has been implemented While overseeing all these activities, East Africa Business Council (EABC) business recovery from Covid-19 impacts, association’s agenda of Pillar, has as its primary focus, jobs and in various counties to promote youth Carole Kariuki Karuga maintains a busy whose board of directors is currently influence policies and laws focused on private sector growth enterprise development for Youth and employment and women enterprise devel- event calendar, as she champions all pri- chaired by Nik Nesbitt. EABC is the apex promoting trade and investment, increase Women. This pillar seeks to promote youth opment countrywide wherein 70% of the vate sector engagements where her exper- body of businesses in EAC.

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and development of our beloved country,” Legislature and the Executive to work Muturi said then. together in lockstep. #5 For a country known for having stellar To understand Muturi’s passion, one economic plans, a progressive constitu- needs to look at his history. Born in a Justin Bedan tion and dozens of business-enabling laws, remote village in Kanyuambora, Mbeere, Muturi’s sentiments could have sounded in Embu County on April 28, 1956, JB is ambitious, even far-fetched. the son of a policeman and a hardworking Muturi “We were dealing with multiple admin- housewife. Muturi has defied all odds to istrative issues to settle the new MPs in get to where he is today, the head of the SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL an expanded House, nearly twice the size Legislature and the third-in-command in ASSEMBLY OF KENYA of the previous Parliament, and at the the constitutional pecking order. same time, we did not want to lose focus His father died while Muturi was at Reimagining Kenya’s political and about the fact that we exist to serve the Kangaru School in Embu, but he slogged economic destiny one law at a time people, to improve their lives, and liveli- on. With the goodwill villagers and his hoods. Boosting investments and growing hardworking mother (who died in 2018), the economy sustainably top that agenda,” he made it to the University of Nairobi, ustin Bedan (JB) Muturi is the conduc- Muturi said in an interview with Business where he studied law, and upon graduation, tor of Kenya’s legislative orchestra. From Monthly for this story. he was picked as a magistrate serving in his perch, he powerfully drives a busi- He is a man who was aware of the different parts of the country, in Bungoma, ness-friendly agenda, skillfully negotiating new reality about the place of Parliament Githunguri, Thika, Machakos, and Nairobi. theJ contours of politics as the Parliament he leads in Kenya’s political architecture. The He quit the Judiciary to try his hand at pol- makes laws and regulations to create a stable Constitution changed in 2010 giving itics, and after losing in the 1997 general business environment and better livelihoods for Parliament immense sway in making the election, he won the Siakago parliamentary Kenyans. Does he want to succeed President national budget, approving debt ceilings seat in 1999 by-election. In between, he Kenyatta? He spoke to Business Monthly in May and in oversight of the Executive’s roles. was a businessman, in the space of clearing 2021. The system too has changed to a majori- and forwarding, transport and dubbing That afternoon on March 28, 2013, Justin tarian presidential system, meaning that with poultry farming. Bedan Muturi—fondly referred to by many as the party in power had a majority in JB was re-elected on the Kanu tick- JB, nibbled on his lunch in one of the rooms at Parliament, making it inevitable for the et in 2002, and became the party’s Parliament buildings, his eyes firmly fixed on the screen tallying the votes of Speaker. He had campaigned, lobbied, and prayed. Now it was up to the Members of the National Assembly to choose their Speaker. His challenger, the then Speaker Kenneth Marende, the umpire of the Tenth Parliament, was also in the race. The num- bers trickled in, the computers whirred and when the final tally was announced, after two rounds of voting, Muturi was elected with 219 votes against Marende’s 129. That day marked the beginning of his role at the helm of the National Assembly and as the chairman of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). But it is what he said next that defined his focus, his vision for the place of Parliament in building the nation, boosting investments, grow- ing the economy and changing livelihoods. His priority, he said, was on passage of governance laws, laws to boost the economy and position Kenya competitively in the global market. “In my view (what) is most crucial and urgent, is the passage of the laws that will set the pace for the sustained economic growth

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need to fix the healthcare, the economy, the operate in Kenya. The overhaul of education and how we run the affairs of this the law was done incorporating the country,” Muturi told Business Monthly. changes in technology, procedure, For the last nine “It should not be acceptable that fam- and corporate governance principles, years, Muturi has ilies get bankrupted while treating their and partly in response to the Ease of been engaging sick, or that we are always scrambling with Doing Business requirements which the media and the hospital bills. Covid-19 has disrupted our boosted Kenya’s rankings. Dozens private sector on way of doing things, and we must take these of laws that support business have lessons and recalibrate our thinking and been enacted during Muturi’s ten- how Parliament priorities accordingly,” he added. ure, including the Insolvency Act, can help them As the first Speaker of the National the Mining Act, The Public Audit to do their job Assembly in the new bicameral arrange- Act, the Public Procurement and effectively. Every ment, Muturi was coming in from the cold Asset Disposal Act. In the last eight year, he invites after five years of being outside Parliament years, 220 laws were enacted under journalists and the working in the civil society, rebuilding the Hon. Muturi’s leadership. As the KEPSA to discuss country’s democracy as the chairman of the first Speaker under the Constitution different issues Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD). of Kenya 2010, he presided over Now, he is back in the ring, in a very import- the overhaul of the country’s laws, on governance, on ant position, expected to address the bread- including some, in the statute books business, on the and-butter issues, directly affecting the 349 since the colonial period. economy, and how MPs in the National Assembly and the 67 What next for him? There have Parliament can help MPs in the Senate, and indirectly, all the 48 been reports that he is seeking the with that. million Kenyans. highest office in the land, which The party in power had a manifes- will make him the first Speaker to to, with policies and pledges to build a have the courage to do so in Kenya. first-class logistics hub covering transport, You can see it in his demeanour, roads, railways, waterways, pipelines, ports, the events he attends, the people he storage and energy in Kenya. To mod- meets, and his recent public pro- ernise agriculture and end the perennial on behalf of the people of Kenya,” nouncements. Not too long ago, JB cyclic hunger. To boost manufacturing and he said. As a former magistrate, he was crowned Mt Kenya East spokes- diversify exports. To clean up and simplify For the last nine years, Muturi person. And newspaper headlines the procurement bottlenecks. To make tax has been engaging the media and the had witnessed the suffering of these days have him as a possible collection more efficient. To deepen rela- private sector on how Parliament can the people first-hand, in land running mate, or president, in the tionships with Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, help them to do their job effectively. cases, unfair business practices, 2022 government. On being prod- Somalia, South Sudan, and other regional Every year, he invites journalists and ded on his next political move, JB countries, who depend on Kenya for goods the Kenya Private Sector Alliance auctions which consigned many retorted, “Mwenye macho haambiwi and services, and whose exports feed our (KEPSA) to discuss different issues families to poverty and other tazama,” as he chuckled away. He, country. And to create a business climate on governance, on business, on the predatory attacks perpetrated by however, promised to respond com- that encourages innovation, investment and economy, and how Parliament can prehensively to the question “when growth. Overall, the goal was to make life help with that. “We have to remem- the sharks in the country the time comes”. powerful chief whip and one of the country. As a politician, long before the affordable and improve the quality of life for ber why we do our politics. We do “Right now, I have a job to most effective chairpersons of the Public Constituency Development Fund was acti- the Kenyan citizen, by making food, hous- not do it for ourselves. The people do and jointly, we have plenty of Investments Committee (PIC) in the his- vated in 2005, he set up infrastructure in ing, energy and transport easier to access. who elect us, expect us to come issues we are trying to do as the tory of the house. During this period, JB the constituency to help the needy, paying So, when the Executive asks for money, up with policies, laws and tangible Legislature. The time for politics will distinguished himself as a gallant crusader their school fees and medical bills, as he including permission to borrow colossal results that improve the quality of come, and I assure you, that I am not in unmasking runaway corruption partic- begged the government of the day to build amounts, to implement life-changing proj- their lives,” said Muturi. one to shy away from challenges,” he ularly in state owned enterprises (SOEs). roads, schools and hospitals. ects in food security, infrastructure, electric- Auditing the performance of the quipped, tongue in cheek. As a former magistrate, he had wit- Now as the Speaker, his vision was ity distribution to build the foundation for a 11th Parliament, between 2013 and That a lot more has been nessed the suffering of the people first- very clear about what the country needed prosperous country, Parliament acquiesces. 2017, the tally of laws that the House done under his stewardship of the hand, in land cases, unfair business prac- to work on: education, health, the econo- “It is a shame that some of the projects were passed is impressive. For example, National Assembly and even more tices, auctions which consigned many my and good governance. “As Speaker, I not executed as envisaged due to corruption the Companies Act was revamped is expected of him to influence the families to poverty and other predatory don’t have a vote in the House. But I try and other issues, but as Parliament, we to a new law that made it easier business environment, the jury is attacks perpetrated by the sharks in the my best to explain to Members that we continue to hold the Executive to account for entities to efficiently set up and out. Watch this space.

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n the 2nd of January 2020, his first day at Kenya Airways (KQ) as acting CEO, Allan Kilavuka took a tour of a few offices at Othe headquarters. Here, Allan got his first With all that is going #6 glimpse of the airline and hope for the on, we must focus on future. our people. We are ‘The many highly talented individu- improving employee Allan als worked tirelessly to ensure that the safety and wellbeing Airline’s future is sustainable and in good and aligning the post- hands. This signalled hope. I also came Covid-19 pandemic across world-class facilities developed to Kilavuka network with the meet the emerging market requirements and advancements in technology. These are requisite human MD/CEO KENYA AIRWAYS PLC to build business resilience and ensure that resources and skills.” the Airline remains one of the most compet- itive in the region. I re-affirmed that KQ is one of the few long-standing African carri- ers that has pioneered key achievements in the African aviation industry,’ Allan says, remembering his first day at KQ, away from his previous seat as CEO of Jambojet. Allan adds, ‘It was not lost on me that KQ’s financial performance and the brand had undergone some challenging times restrictions suddenly reduced our net- tunities we could find, and vigorously in recent years. One of the most notable work by 65%. From thereon, the situa- pursued opportunities in Cargo,’ the story concerns was that our previously enviable tion was deteriorating by the hour, and continues. customer handling and retention skills, had our passenger numbers were dropping Allan says that on the flip side, the deteriorated. As a result, numerous custom- and dwindling by the minute,’ he adds. pause in activities gave management time er complaints were pouring in. This could ‘Eventually, the inevitable happened; to reflect on the future of Kenya Airways only mean two things; one, our customers for the first time in our history, we and how to emerge even stronger, better, cared enough to tell us where we needed paused our international flights in April and more focused on the other side of the to improve. Secondly, we needed to ensure and parked 32 out of our 34-passenger crisis. that we considered all their complaints, aircraft fleet. This action is equivalent to In August 2020, international passen- and ensure that their flying experiences are stopping the sale of your top brand for a ger flights resumed and KQ could breathe seamless, memorable and enjoyable’. year. Our ‘top brand’ being flights during a collective sigh of relief. As anticipated, ‘Customer centricity stands prominent- our peak season, ours runs from June to KQ’s return to the skies was bound to be ly as one of our fundamental values, but we August. It is during this period that most gradual despite an early surge of pent-up were not living up to it. We were not deliv- airlines turn a profit. Consequently, the demand. As such, KQ was operating at ering a consistently ‘delightful experience next 4 months were challenging for us a reduced scale with an extremely lean with a caring African touch.’ because our engines were cold and quiet, network. This reality led to the rightsizing According to Allan, there was the con- eventually leading us to the difficult but of the airline’s operations, a painful but cern about strengthening KQ’s efficiency necessary road of survival. The impact of necessary action. and optimising the operating costs to ulti- this lull was a 90% hole in our revenue,’ According to Allan, the Covid-19 virus mately move to a breakeven point. Allan narrates. global outbreak in 2020 was beyond any- ‘We started our reform agenda in ear- ‘We made every effort to conserve one’s prediction. Its impact on the aviation nest with a lot of optimism and made cash and ensure the Airline’s survival. industry is expected to continue affecting significant strides. Then in February 2020, This entailed instituting pay cuts, scal- air travel demand for the next 2 to 3 years. nine countries in our Africa network and ing down on any cash negative opera- Approximately 70 per cent of total pas- the UAE and India announced travel tions and negotiating discounts on air- sengers carried in 2020 were flown during restrictions following the continued spread craft loans and lease rentals. We looked the first three months of the year, demon- of the SARs CoV 2 virus that was causing for every opportunity to raise revenue, strating the drop in demand as the global CovidD-19 disease. In effect, these travel signed up the few charter flight oppor- crisis deepened during the year. In

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which increased dedicated cargo capaci- ty by 126 tonnes per week. We will also expand our maintenance offering to third parties and have so far signed 7 new cus- tomers. We will also get into the unmanned aircraft space (drones) by leveraging our heritage, legacy, and experience of over 44 years in manned aviation,’’ opines Allan on KQ’s recovery trajectory. ‘When we were grappling with how to survive and move forward, we challenged employees during an ideation process and got back no less than 700 ideas which we are working to implement. We are now working to entrench this culture of inno- vation by launching the Fahari Innovation Hub, a business innovation and incubation centre that allows for accelerated transfor- mation of ideas into sustainable business opportunities. KQ is the only Airline that has developed such an aviation hub in Africa,’ Allan states. ‘Our initial predictions were that the Covid-19 pandemic would have eased by the end of 2020. Unfortunately, this is not President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Congolese host Felix Tshisekedi witness the signing of a partnership deal the case. As we stepped into 2021, the between Kenya Airways and Congo Airways by KQ Chief Executive Allan Kilavuka and his Congo counterpart realisation that customer service excellence Desire Balazire Bantu. PHOTO | PSCU and a diversified product portfolio would be the most critical factors for our survival 2019, KQ had celebrated the highest of our business is in the passenger segment. informed our Financial Year (FY) 2021 ever passenger haul that had now dropped If 2020 is anything to go by, this poses a themes. These themes will drive all our ini- by over 60% to 2.4 million. Like all airlines significant business risk to the Airline. Top tiatives and activities under our 5 strategic in the world, KQ reported record losses in on the diversification strategy is the growth objectives, which are vital to building a 2020, a record forced on it by the raging of our cargo business. We want to grow and cost-efficient and resilient airline business. effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. ensure that it contributes to 20% of the Financial Stability is critical – improv- ‘Of necessity, things will never be the overall business. In December of 2020, we ing our revenue, containing costs, and con- same again. There is no silver bullet, other launched the world’s first B787 Preighter, serving cash. We are also working towards than to focus on a few essential actions securing funding to bridge the current that we believe will put the Airline on the shortfall. long road to recovery. We will continue to With all that is going on, we must focus focus on our customers by ensuring that According to Allan, the on our people. We are improving employ- we understand them and align our prod- Covid-19 virus global ee safety and wellbeing and aligning the ucts and services to suit their needs and post-Covid-19 pandemic network with the address the end-to-end experience through outbreak in 2020 requisite human resources and skills. the customer journey. To achieve this, we was beyond anyone’s ‘At the moment, we acknowledge that are revamping our digital platforms and prediction. Its impact there are many moving parts, and the re-training our employees. For instance, situation is constantly evolving. Our aim we have relaunched our Contact Centre on the aviation industry is to keep the main thing the main thing. and renamed it the Customer Excellence is expected to continue I remain cautiously optimistic about a Centre,’ adds Allan. affecting air travel demand brighter future. But first, we need to get ‘We are diversifying our business to over this hump.’ concludes Allan Kilavuka, ensure that we build a resilient business for the next 2 to 3 years who was confirmed as the Group CEO of that can stand the test of time. Over 85% Kenya Airways Plc on April 1, 2020.

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New millennium, new responsibilities The process of drafting of the new By the turn of the new millennium, it was constitution required strong and prin- #7 increasingly clear that Dr. Amina Mohamed cipled diplomacy owing to the different was best placed to lead Kenya’s diplomat- and sometimes competing needs of the ic efforts at the UN. She had built an stakeholders involved. It also required Amb. Dr. Amina impressive track record in Geneva and had the leadership of a strong legal mind who established deep ties with many influential understood the finer nuances of constitu- contacts around the world. She was subse- tional law. Amb. Mohamed was adept at Mohamed quently appointed as the Ambassador and this job, helping bestow on Kenyans the Permanent Representative for the Kenya gift of a new constitution that has been CABINET SECRETARY SPORTS, diplomatic mission in Geneva. She served widely acclaimed as being the most pro- HERITAGE AND CULTURE in this role between 2000 and 2006, sur- gressive in the world. viving the personnel reshuffling that typ- ically comes when a new administration, Coming back home Kibaki’s Narc government took over from When President Uhuru Kenyatta took ver the past 30 years, Ambassador Dr. Moi’s Kanu in 2002. office in 2013, he assembled a team of Amina Mohamed has built a long and dis- During her time as Kenya’s foremost Dr. Amina Mohamed’s 18 cabinet appointees—Amb. Amina tinguished career in the public sector. The diplomat to the UN, Dr. Amina Mohamed rising star in the early Mohamed was among the first four of seasoned lawyer turned diplomat, who also served in other important roles such as: years of her career the appointees on the list. The president Ocurrently heads the Sports, Heritage and Culture  Chairperson, Coordinator and appointed her Cabinet Secretary (CS) for ministry, started her career in 1985 as a legal offi- Spokesperson for the African Group in opened new opportunities Foreign Affairs and International Trade. cer the Ministry of Local Government, where she the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) overseas, and in 1990, This was indeed, a homecoming for the assessed World Bank development projects. Her Human Rights Commission. she was appointed as the CS in many ways, considering she was familiarity with the inner workings of multilateral  President of the Conference on now heading the Ministry that she had institutions quickly earned her the trust of high- Disarmament. legal advisor to Kenya’s dedicated most of her early years in public er-ranking officials in the government, and in 1986,  First female chairperson of the Mission at the United service to. just one year into her debut in public service, she International Organization for Migration. Nations (UN) Head Office However, despite all the experience was tapped as a legal adviser to the Ministry of  Chaired the Trade Policy Review and contacts CS Mohamed had built at the Foreign Affairs. Body in 2003 and served as the chair- in Geneva, Switzerland Ministry of Foreign affairs, the job at the It is at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—where person of the Dispute Settlement Body in helm of the docket was anything but easy. she would eventually become CS at a later stage in 2004. appointed her to the Ministry of Justice, Kenya’s international image at the time her career—that Amina Mohamed honed her craft  In 2005, she became the first woman National Cohesion and Constitutional had greatly been undermined by the cases as a diplomat. Between 1986 and 1990, she was to chair the WTO’s General Council. Affairs to serve as the Permanent Secretary. against the President and his Deputy, at involved in negotiating and drafting various bilat-  Between 2001 and 2005, she was She supervised the drafting, negotia- the International Criminal Court (ICC) in eral treaties, including the Bilateral Air Services a Member of the Executive Boards and tion, national referendum, and promul- the Hague. To compound matters, Kenya’s Agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Committees of the World Intellectual gation of the new position on the case was clear: the ICC was Iran, and the United Kingdom, as well as the Property Organization (WIPO), 2010, including institutional reforms on not best suited to handle Africa’s problems African Convention on the Rights of the Child. International Labour Organization (ILO), elections, ethics and integrity, access to owing to its historical bias against the con- Dr. Amina Mohamed’s rising star in the early World Health Organization (WHO), justice and the development of a national tinent’s leaders. It was on Amb. Dr. Amina years of her career opened new opportunities over- United Nations Conference on Trade cohesion policy. Mohamed’s shoulders that the country seas, and in 1990, she was appointed as the legal and Development (UNCTAD), United It must be remembered that this was placed all its diplomatic tools and skills to advisor to Kenya’s Mission at the United Nations Nations High Commissioner for Refugees a particularly tense time for the country navigate the legal and international image (UN) Head Office in Geneva, Switzerland. This (UNHCR) and the Joint United Nations following the unfortunate events of the issues. marked the beginning of a long and rewarding Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). 2007-2008 Post Election Violence (PEV). CS Mohamed did a stellar job advanc- career advancing Kenya’s diplomatic interests at  Between 2006 and 2007, she Renewed faith for the clamour for a new ing Kenya’s position on the ICC issue various UN agencies and global fora. Over the next acted as Director for both Europe and constitution and the electoral process was and building alliances with likeminded decade, she achieved milestone after milestone in Commonwealth Countries as well as desperately needed, making Ambassador countries and organizations across Africa. both her professional and academic life; she ascend- Diaspora matters desks. Mohamed’s job at the Ministry of Justice By the time the cases fell through, many ed to the position of Legal Adviser to the Kenyan highly critical. Although the orientation African countries, including South Africa, delegation at the UN Security Council (the apex Detour to the Ministry of Justice of the job was different—in that it was a Uganda, Gambia, and Burundi, had voiced organ of the UN) while at the same time, obtain- After the 2007 General Elections, the then locally focused role – the diplomatic skills their concerns about the bias the ICC held ing her Postgraduate Diploma in International President, HE Mwai Kibaki, plucked Dr. required to succeed were no different from towards African leaders. Some had even Relations from the University of Oxford in the U.K. Amina Mohamed from her UN role and those that had helped her excel at the UN. threatened to quit.

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After correcting the misper- juncture is why the Ministry never gets ceptions around the ICC cases, CS resources allocated in printed estimates,” Mohamed focused her attention to CS Amina Mohamed said when speaking the image rebuilding front, breathing to the Committee on Sports in the National new life into bilateral and multilat- Assembly in 2019. eral partnerships with old and new In addition to funding challenges, partners and allies. This was imme- which have led to delays in construc- diately successful. In 2015, Kenya tion of national stadiums and setback in hosted the first-ever World Trade implementation of various projects, CS Organization (WTO) Ministerial Amina Mohamed has also had to deal with Conference on African soil. In the the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, same year, Kenya also hosted former which paralyzed sporting events around U.S. President Barack Obama and the whole world in 2020. the leader of the Catholic Church, Despite these challenges, CS Mohamed Pope Francis. These significant visits has brought new momentum to the sports and meetings were followed in quick docket. After the rollout of the Covid-19 succession in 2016, with Kenya host- vaccination nationally, she moved with ing UNCTAD’s 14th session and the speed to ensure Kenyan athletes, coaches first Tokyo International Conference and sporting staff participating in inter- on African Development (TICAD) on national games got the jab. By April this African soil. year, 4,600 individuals from our national During President Kenyatta’s second term, CS Amina Mohamed’s While at the Ministry of Foreign Her reforms in the Vocational Cabinet Secretary tutions’ establishment funding to teams had been inoculated, allowing them career took an interesting turn, when she was appointed the first Affairs and International Trade, CS Training Centers increased enroll- Amina Mohamed construct 30 additional institutions to participate in important international woman CS in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Amina Mohamed was able to turn ment in vocational training by 100% receives former US in the 2018/2019 financial year games such as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Secretary of State Innovation in 2018, taking over from CS Matiang’i who had been the diplomatic and economic tide as she also built institutes through- John Kerry at the in vast counties. This was part of which have been rescheduled due to the moved to the Interior docket. in five short years. In the first year out the country, including the most Harambe House in a 5-year plan to skill five million pandemic. alone, CS Amina Mohamed skills expansive and in far flung counties Nairobi, Kenya on young Kenyans with transferrable Following months of engagements with and diplomatic finesse contribut- of Kenya. CS Amina Mohamed nego- May 4 2015. Photo | skills to support decent livelihoods. Federation’ Internationale Automobile athletes with critical financial, entrepre- following national honours and awards, ed to raising the Foreign Direct tiated lower college fees for stu- State Department CS Amina Mohamed recognized (FIA) and the World Rally Championship neurial and life skills. This is timely in including: Investment (FDI) by 400%. dents in Technical and Vocational the value of research in higher edu- (WRC) Promoter, CS Mohamed was able view of the many unfortunate stories of Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart Education and Training (TVET) cation and negotiated a research to secure rights to host one round of the former star athletes wallowing in poverty of Kenya (EGH) Interesting turn institutes, broadening skills acquisi- grant of Ksh. 4 billion to this prestigious global competition in Kenya, and desperation despite earning millions Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear During President Kenyatta’s second tion and access to tertiary education. effect. Successfully rolled out the through the WRC Safari Rally as it is pop- of shillings in the peak of their careers. (CBS) term, CS Amina Mohamed’s career For the first time since independence, Competency Based Curriculum in ularly known is the highest level of global Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian took an interesting turn, when she TVET students can now access gov- January 2019 commencing an elab- competition in motorsport. Safari Rally From Kakamega to the World Solidarity (Cav.O.S.S.I.) was appointed the first woman CS in ernment loans to finance their train- orate process of curriculum change has not been hosted as part of the WRC in It is hard to believe that someone who is Life Member of the Red Cross Society the Ministry of Education, Science, ing. to align Kenya’s population to the Kenya for 19 years, despite its heritage of fluent in English, Russian, Swahili and Member of the Life and Peace Institute Technology and Innovation in 2018, She also expanded TVET insti- demands of a changing world. having been one of the most challenging has a working knowledge of French had International Advisory Council taking over from CS Matiang’i who In 2019, after just a year in and grueling of the WRC events in the pre- a very ordinary childhood in Kakamega Honorary Doctorate from KCA had been moved to the Interior dock- the Education Ministry, CS Amina vious years. The Safari Rally was first held County. CS Amina Mohamed attended the University et. While at the Ministry of Foreign Mohamed was moved once again. in 1953, to commemorate the first visit of Township Primary School in Kakamega Member of the World Economic Forum’s At the Ministry of Education, CS This time, she was appointed CS for the current reigning British Monarch’s to and later Butere Girls and Highlands Girls Global Agenda Council on the Arctic Mohamed was lauded for the admin- Affairs and International Trade, CS Sports, Heritage and Culture. Kenya. High School. Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising istration of the 2018 national exam- Amina Mohamed was able to turn This job, like the one she took at Another notable milestone is the part- She is the eighth of nine siblings. Sun inations. She also achieved a 93% the diplomatic and economic tide the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has nership CS Amina Mohamed has managed Her academic excellence in Kakamega One of the most trusted of the CSs, transition of pupils finishing primary not been easy. The sports ministry to establish with Moi University to insti- opened the door to global opportunities HE the President of Kenya has nominat- school to join high school - the high- in five short years. In the first year has historically been underfunded by tute the African Athletics Development and she secured a scholarship to study ed Amb. Dr. Amina Mohamed to global est in Kenyan history at the time. alone, CS Amina Mohamed skills the National Treasury. Center in Eldoret. The center is more than Law at Taras Shevchenko University in responsibilities, where she has flown the She also devised and implemented a and diplomatic finesse contributed “We have always budgeted for just a facility for local and international Kiev, Ukraine. Here, she pursued her Kenya flag, including as a candidate for Special Needs Education policy and our programmes, but often times athletes to train. It is expected to deploy undergraduate studies (LL.B) as well as the powerful and prestigious Chair of restructured the Higher Education to raising the Foreign Direct the Ministry of Sports gets less of the latest training technology, support her Master of Law (LL.M) in International the African Union (AU) and as Director Loans Board which provides student Investment (FDI) by 400% what is captured in printed esti- research into sports and serve as a hub for Law. General of the World Trade Organization loans in Kenya. mates. The question to pose at this sports tourism. Importantly, it will equip During her career, she has received the (WTO).

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#8 Joseph Mucheru CABINET SECRETARY ICT, INNOVATION AND YOUTH AFFAIRS

n 2015, Joseph Mucheru (mostly known as for themselves: the value of mobile commerce Joe Mucheru) was tapped from his job as transactions grew from Sh1.75 trillion in 2017 the senior-most executive in sub-Saharan to Sh6.95 trillion in 2019, internet subscribers Africa at tech giant Google, where he was per 100 inhabitants grew from 55.2 in 2015 to theI Head of East Africa Google Office and the 83.3 in 2019, and average daily online visitors Regional Leader for Google sub-Saharan Africa to media websites grew from 1.5 million visitors based in Nairobi, to join HE President Uhuru in 2015 to 2.9 million in 2019 according to Kenyatta’s cabinet. The Cabinet Secretary for Economic Survey 2020. ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs took charge of Creating an enabling environment for indus- the ministry at a defining moment in Kenya’s ICT try players to operate, and regulating innovation sector’s history. without killing it, is the magic sauce behind CS The fusion of technology and finance, which Mucheru’s success recipe. During his tenure, the birthed innovations such as Safaricom’s M-PESA government has worked more collaboratively in 2007, had reached a tipping point. M-PESA with the private sector in driving Kenya’s digital was no longer the only game in town and more transformation. This has created multiple bene- mobile money products, including numerous sav- fits, including the successful roll out of the e-cit- ings and lending apps, were going live. Increased izen portal that has revolutionized how Kenyans smartphone availability and the emergence of the access government services. The e-citizen portal, ‘app economy’ had also disrupted many sectors, which is integrated with leading digital payment including media, advertising, and retail. services, has allowed Kenyans to get services Likewise, the digital migration process was much faster while rooting out corruption and drawing to a close, signaling the beginning of inefficiencies associated with manual systems. a new era of digital transformation marked by The CS has also partnered with the private high-speed internet availability to most Kenyans. sector to oversee the successful roll out of the Unlike analogue broadcasting, digital broadcast- National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure, ing accommodates more channels while using which aims to enhance universal access to afford- significantly less spectrum bandwidth. Digital able ICT services countrywide, including to the migration freed up spectrum in the 800 MHZ far-flung parts of Kenya. and 700 MHz bands, allowing for network oper- The ICT Ministry also spearheaded the suc- ators to roll out broadband 4G and long-term cessful rollout of the Digital Literacy Program evolution (LTE) services that have since become (DLP), which aims to integrate digital technol- synonymous with the high-speed internet that ogy into the learning environment by equipping distinguishes Kenya as the region’s dominant teachers and learners with mobile gadgets and tech hub. e-learning software. In many ways, this program set the stage for the widescale launch of e-learn- Results speak for themselves ing programs in many schools following the Managing growth and transformation in a fast- Covid-19 pandemic. paced environment like ICT is arguably one of the most onerous tasks any leader can encoun- Conducive legal and regulatory ter in their career. However, CS Mucheru has environment gracefully and subtly managed this challenge, A key highlight of CS Mucheru’s tenure has been accelerating Kenya’s digital transformation at a his commitment to developing the right legal blistering pace. and regulatory environment for the ICT sector Seven years into office, the results speak to thrive safely and without interferences.

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An alumnus of Lenana School class of 1988 (joining in 1983), CS Mucheru was an avid hockey player who served as Captain of the team and won the distinct honour of being crowned “Sportsman of the Year.”

He is currently the Chairman of Two key pieces of legislation that have the African Telecommunications Union been passed under his watch, include the (ATU) a specialized agency of the African Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act of Union (AU). He also serves as a Global 2018 and the Kenya Data Protection Act Board Member of UNICEF – Generation of 2019. Unlimited (Gen U). Cybercrime routinely ranks as one of An alumnus of Lenana School class the highest risks for public and private of 1988 (joining in 1983), CS Mucheru organizations in today’s digital world. Data was an avid hockey player who served as from the Communications Authority of Captain of the team and won the distinct Kenya (CA), the ICT industry regulator, honour of being crowned “Sportsman of indicates that cybercrime has been increas- the Year.” ing at alarming rate in recent years. In He was also the school DJ. He 2016, around 7.7 million cases, includ- enrolled for his undergraduate studies for ing malware, web application attacks, and a Joint Honours Economics and Computer impersonation, were detected. This figure Science Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree increased to 23.8 million in 2017, 51.9 at City University, London, and graduated million in 2018 and a staggering 110 mil- in 1993. In 2008, he obtained his execu- lion in 2019, underlining the timeliness of tive education from Stanford University the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act Graduate School of Business. of 2018. He was awarded The Moran of the Likewise, the Data Protection Act is Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) in another timely piece of legislation in view From L to R: National Treasury & Planning Ministry CS Ukur Yatani, CS Joe Mucheru, President Uhuru Kenyatta December 2010 by the President of the of the raging global debate about the use of and visiting executives of Amazon Web Services (AWS) pose for a photo after meeting at Statehouse on Republic of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki, for personal data by tech giants such as Google November 8,2019 . Photo | PSCU his outstanding contributions towards and Facebook to sell targeted advertising to get more Kenyan youth into e-working, transforming a 5000 acre piece of land 70 technology. In 2017, CS Joe Mucheru and the implications this has on users’ an industry already thriving, going by the kilometers from Nairobi into a world-class was awarded The Elder of the Order of privacy. The Data Protection Act 2019 emergence of careers such as social media IT hub. Sh17.8 billion—77% of the Sh23 Africa employee and was key to setting Association of Kenya (TESPOK) - an the Golden Heart of Kenya (EGH) by governs the use, processing, and archiving influencing which were unimaginable some billion allocated to the ICT Ministry—has up of Google’s presence in Africa from association of Kenya’s Communications President Uhuru Kenyatta in recognition of personal data and establishes the Office five years or so ago. He has also tasked the been earmarked for Konza City. The funds 2007. Before joining Google, he worked at Service Providers and Operators. of outstanding and distinguished services of the Data Protection Commissioner— CA to develop ways of lowering the cost are expected to go towards infrastructure Wananchi Online, a company he co-found- Between 2013 and 2014, CS Mucheru rendered to the nation in various capaci- an office currently held by Immaculate of smartphones, which will ensure more development and will bring the project a ed in 1999, where he held various senior also served as a Director for UAP ties and responsibilities. Kassait. This law puts Kenya at par with Kenyans participate in the digital economy. step closer to completion. roles at the company including Chief Investments, a subsidiary of insurance CS Joe Mucheru is a member of the other modern jurisdictions such as the Budget estimates for the Financial Year Technology Officer and Chief Executive giant UAP Holdings Plc. Over the same Africa Leadership Network (ALN) and U.K., and the European Union, which have 2021/22, which kicks off on July 1, indi- Successful private sector career Officer. period, he also served as a Director for The National Prayer Breakfast (NPB), a passed similar laws to promote account- cate that CS Mucheru’s focus over the CS Mucheru’s success in public service During his time at Wananchi Online, Bitpesa, one of the pioneering firms in Director of GiveDirectly since 2015 and ability in the digital economy. next year will primarily be on Konza City mirrors similar feats in the private sec- he concurrently served as Chairman of the bitcoin and cryptocurrency space in has been an Advisory Board Member at CS Mucheru has also stepped-up efforts – the Vision 2030 flagship project aimed at tor. He was Google’s first sub-Saharan the Telecommunications Service Provider Africa. the M-PESA Foundation Academy.

38 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 39 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business #9 Prof. George Magoha

CABINET SECRETARY EDUCATION

hen Professor George Magoha, a renowned professor of urolog- ical and transplant surgery at the University of Nairobi, was appointedW Cabinet Secretary for Education in 2019, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was the right man for the job. The accomplished surgeon cum academ- ic leader had served as the Chairman of the Kenya National Examination Council riots, and general lethargy and absenteeism (KNEC) from 2016 after the then Education among the staff. Prof. Magoha is the first VC of a CS, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, sent the former KNEC public university to be recruited competitively in Prof. Magoha’s rise to the helm of the leadership home in the wake of bungled Kenya, by a public university council that equal- Education Ministry is the culmination national examinations. At KNEC, Professor ly boasted the first independently head-hunted Magoha quickly established a reputation for chancellor who is not the seating President of of a distinguished career in academic being a no-nonsense administrator, accelerat- the country. administration. In his memoir, George ing the reforms set into motion by the then With a concise and clinical approach that is Magoha: Tower of Transformational Education CS Dr. Matiang’i. This involved typical of a top and globally respected surgeon, dismantling the cartels that had propagated Prof. George Magoha led a team that drafted the Leadership, the widely published widespread exam cheating for years, a task university’s first strategic plan in over 50 years, scholar attributes his ‘rising star’ to the that earned him many enemies but that also creating a renewed sense of accountability in the selfless nature of undertaking what secured him the support and admiration management and staffing of the institution. He of most Kenyans, thousands of whom had also introduced an open-door policy for manag- most would see as ‘lowly’ duties grown tired of the entrenched examination ing students’ grievances, enabling him to engage malpractices. Thanks to the enhanced mea- aggrieved students directly and defuse tensions the university made significant savings, improved sures his team adopted in curbing cheating in before they blew over into riots. For the entire fees collection and enhanced efficiencies. In quan- examinations, Kenya delivered clean results decade that he served as the vice chancellor, titative terms, the university’s asset portfolio for the first time in many years in 2016—a the students never engaged in untoward violent grew from Sh20 billion in 2004 to Sh102 billion trend that has been maintained since then. actions. in 2014 when his term was grinding to a halt, Prof. Magoha is also credited with the imple- his legacy captured by the building of a modern Not the first time mentation of a financial and management infor- multi-storey administrative block and modern This was not the first time that Professor mation system that revolutionized the manage- lecture rooms. Magoha was successfully spearheading ment of the university, leading to efficiencies and While at the helm of the UoN, Prof. Magoha reforms in areas where so many had failed. effectiveness of processes. With the support of a stepped up fundraising for the universi ty, lever- At the University of Nairobi (UoN), where professional university council appointed purely aging on his expansive local and international he served as Vice Chancellor (VC) between on merit and led by Dr. Joe Wanjui, Prof. Magoha network, to raise the much-needed funds. 2005 and 2015, he restored the prestige of reorganized the finance department, appointed “I am an avid fund raiser with a direct indi- the institution, which had been run down due new managers, introduced performance contract- vidual track record of over 500 million shillings to financial impropriety, academic malaise, ing, secured ISO certification, and instilled fiscal towards infrastructure development at the College student indiscipline concurrent with frequent discipline. The results were undeniably positive: of Health Sciences and the main campus,

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and collectively several billions with doing, as opposed to 8-4-4, which other colleagues for research at the College has earned the reputation of teach- of Health Sciences,” said the CS. ing learners to cram exam questions Prof. Magoha’s rise to the helm of the instead of applying the subject mat- Education Ministry is the culmination of a ter in real-life situations. The fruits distinguished career in academic adminis- of CBC will take years to mature and tration. In his memoir, George Magoha: there will be many learnings along Tower of Transformational Leadership, the the way. That said, Prof. Magoha widely published scholar attributes his ‘ris- and his team are doing a critical job ing star’ to the selfless nature of undertak- edging in sand the foot prints of its ing what most would see as ‘lowly’ duties. foundation today. A press article reviewed by Business For all his admirers, CS Magoha Monthly notes that at one point as VC also has his fair share of critics of University of Nairobi, Prof. Magoha who disagree with his no-nonsense personally supervised the installation of approach. He has had several run- a burglar proof grill at the Department ins with union officials and has also of Surgery. This is not different from the had to effect deep culture change Prof. Magoha we have come to know as within the Ministry—an exercise that CS for education—a man who makes was initially met with resistance. For impromptu visits to schools in far-flung instance, below is an excerpt from regions to inspect on the quality-of-service a public statement the CS made in delivery and conditions of the educational relation to culture change at the Prof George Magoha during his swearing in at State House. Photo | PSCU infrastructures in those remote parts of Ministry: the country. “When I was sworn in as Cabinet Secretary for Education on March Away from the Covid-19 Pandemic, Prof. Magoha Managing through crisis 26, 2019, my first engagement at has also been managing another herculean task— It is often said that good leadership is seen the Ministry of Education was to implementing the Competency Based Curriculum in times of crisis. Prof. Magoha embodies physically confirm whether Ministry this truism. Following the Covid-19 pan- employees report to work at the (CBC). Under the CBC model of education, children are demic and the disruption of the school cal- expected time. I immediately real- expected to spend two years in pre-primary, six years in endar, the CS has been a regular fixture in ized that more that 60% of the offic- primary and six years in secondary school the national press where he has routinely es were empty and unattended by offered guidance on the phased reopening 11am. I then sought to rally the staff of schools, re-configuration of class rooms and firmly impressed upon them the career, Prof. George Magoha has education respectively, Prof. Magoha to meet the Covid-19 protective protocols importance of reporting for duty on always had the leadership bug. was awarded a scholarship to study and re-scheduling of national examina- 19 virus, SAR’s CoV 2. Away from the time. To monitor attendance of staff Prior to his appointment to the human medicine at the University of tions. Covid-19 Pandemic, Prof. Magoha has to their duties, I spearheaded the Education Ministry, his chairman- Lagos, in Nigeria. His studies took Thanks to his leadership, schools It is often said that good leadership also been managing another herculean installation of CCTV and biometric ship at KNEC, and even his role as him through the Lagos University reopened successfully in January after is seen in times of crisis. Prof. task—implementing the Competency devices in all entry and exit points VC at University of Nairobi, Prof. Teaching Hospital, the University nine months of closure, national exams Magoha embodies this truism. Based Curriculum (CBC). for checking in and out all Ministry Magoha served as Chairman of the College Hospital, Ibadan, both in have been done and credible examination Following the Covid-19 pandemic Under the CBC model of education, personnel. Though it was initially academic Department of Surgery, Nigeria and the Royal Postgraduate results released on time, in keeping with and the disruption of the school children are expected to spend two years resisted, within a span of 6 months, and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. Medical School, in United Kingdom. the standards he set in 2016, with zero calendar, the CS has been a regular in pre-primary, six years in primary and cases of absenteeism had reduced to Prof. Magoha served as President He is trained as a specialized urol- incidents of leakage and the very mini- fixture in the national press where six years in secondary school. Those who almost zero with nearly all top man- Association of Medical Councils of ogist (Royal College of Surgeons) mum cases of cheating. proceed to university study for three years agers reporting for duty voluntarily Africa for five years between 2013 and is a Fellow of the Royal College Prof. Magoha’s visible leadership has he has routinely offered guidance while those who join certificate, diploma by 6:30am, a situation which has and 2018. This is in addition to hav- of Ireland. He also an alumnus of been highly reassuring for many parents on the phased reopening of schools, and technical courses study for varied remained the same to date.”—CS ing served for an exceptionally long the Graduate School of Business at who feared that their children’s learning re-configuration of class rooms periods depending on the programme. Magoha in a public statement issued period of time as Chairman Kenya Stanford University, where he studied would stop amid the cloud of uncer- to meet the Covid-19 protective This is in contrast to the 8-4-4 system in 2020 on the status of the educa- Medical Practitioners and Dentists executive management. tainty brought about by the Covid-19 protocols and re-scheduling of which prescribes eight years in primary, tion sector. Board. Prof. George Magoha is a pro- pandemic. He has been very emphatic on national examinations. four in secondary and four in university. An alumnus of Starehe Boys fessor of Urology at the School schools’ adherence to health guidelines Importantly, CBC places more emphasis Leadership bug Centre and Strathmore College, where of Medicine of the University of aimed at curbing the spread of Covid- on the development of skills learning by Right from the beginning of his he completed his O and A-Level Nairobi.

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build A Better Tomorrow for our stakeholders. Essentially, for our consumers, we want to offer a range of viable and responsibly marketed products in tobacco, nicotine and beyond; for society, we aim to reduce the health and environmental impacts of our business; for our employees, we want to create a dynam- ic, inspiring and purposeful place for them to work; and for our shareholders, we want to deliver superior and sus- tainable returns.” Judging from his detailed account of his vision for BAT in East Africa, it is obvious that Crispin is glad to be back at BAT and has embraced his new role with vigour. “BAT is becoming a business that defines itself not by the products it sells but by the consumer needs it meets. Anchored on our renewed purpose, we are accelerating the transfor- mation of our business and industry through our ambi- Crispin is responsible for driving overall business tion to reduce the health impact of our business, by strategy for the NSE-listed company, BAT Kenya, offering a greater choice of viable and potentially which is one of BAT Group’s global manufacturing less risky products for our consumers. At the same hubs. He also oversees BAT operations in the East time, we understand our impact, the importance of African region, covering more than 13 markets high standards of integrity and our evolving societal including Uganda, Rwanda, Somaliland, Mauritius, responsibilities. We are therefore moving from a busi- La Reunion, Comoros, Madagascar, South Sudan ness where sustainability has always been important, and Tanzania. to one where it is front and centre in all that we do. In rispin Achola is a seasoned and versatile business “I am immensely proud to be taking over the this regard, we remain committed to addressing the leader who this year made history as BAT Kenya’s leadership of a company that has a rich history and environmental impact of our business, delivering a #10 first Kenyan Managing Director. He is also an 2017 heritage in the region. BAT is living proof of the positive social impact and ensuring robust corporate Executive Director on the BAT Kenya Board. great strides that we are making in Kenya and the governance across the business, through our robust Crispin Achola CCrispin’s journey with BAT started in 1999 when he _The year Achola left wider East Africa, with more and more global com- Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda. joined the Company from Unilever. He subsequently held BAT in 2017 and joined panies choosing their leaders from a diverse and tal- “I am determined to see Kenya and the region, BAT KENYA MANAGING DIRECTOR & EAST various senior roles within BAT Kenya and the Group; the Kimberly-Clarke ented pool of homegrown executives. This is a solid benefit from BAT’s evolved strategy and the pos- AFRICA GENERAL MANAGER including Managing Director Mozambique, Cluster General Corporation where he testimony to the maturity and high-quality local sibilities it brings. Already, as part of a KSh 2.5 Manager- Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, was General Manager, talent that we have always known existed within us. billion investment, we have injected KSh 0.6 billion West, East & Central “I am excited to be leading the and Managing Director, Sudan. He left BAT in 2017 and Africa (WECA) and “This is a time of immense change for BAT. And in a new world class factory for the manufacture of transformation of BAT’s business in East joined the Kimberly-Clarke Corporation where he was Managing Director while this feels very much like a homecoming for tobacco-free oral nicotine products. We also complet- General Manager, West, East & Central Africa (WECA) and Nigeria, until his return me, I am absolutely delighted for the opportunity to ed a major Ksh 600 million refurbishment of our Africa and building the enterprise of the Managing Director Nigeria, until his return to BAT Kenya to BAT Kenya in January lead the transformation of our business and indus- head office in Nairobi’s industrial area and Ushs 1.3 future to deliver a better tomorrow.” in January 2021. 2021. try, through an evolved strategy and purpose: to billion for our Uganda office, as well as overall

44 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 45 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business

As a result of his immense Pan- African experience, expertise, and interaction with diverse groups of people and environments, Crispin has established himself as an author- ity within the realm of business and corporate leadership. Given this colourful track record, his peo- ple-oriented approach to delivering business success is no surprise. “I am committed to building a great place to work for our people and I have a very able team walk- ing alongside me to deliver this ambition. Significant progress has already been made in attracting and retaining an increasingly diverse workforce and providing a welcom- ing, inclusive, and modern working combustibles business, which will be environment. This is a key driver for at the core of our business for some BAT’s transformation journey. investment of over KSh 5 billion in time to come. This will be achieved “Despite our global profile, we our value chain over the last five through accelerating innovation are a proudly Kenyan and East years. in our operations, on the back of African business with a rich history “Our unwavering commitment data-driven insights and foresights and heritage, collectively spanning to Kenya and the region notwith- as well as leveraging state of the art over 200 years in the region. As part standing, we continue to face signifi- digital technologies.” of our People agenda, we are build- cant challenges within the operating ing a legacy of leaders with a major environment. Most notable is the focus on next generation talent as increasing incidence of illicit trade well as diversity and inclusion. I in tobacco products, which as at the am proud that today, around 40% end of 2020 was at 23% in Kenya, of our total workforce is female and up from 11% in 2019. We also face a we are working hard towards our challenging regulatory environment 50/50 ambition in gender represen- for our new category products and tation. Our annual internship and an unsustainable fiscal regime for Global Graduate programmes have our tobacco products. To address also consistently registered a high these issues, we are engaging with intake of female talent. But it is not the relevant authorities to contrib- only about gender. We have a clear ute to a sustainable regulatory and 3600 diversity strategy that covers fiscal environment which supports a wide range of generational aspects, socio-economic growth and devel- experience, cultural backgrounds, opment.” disabilities and pay equity, amongst On the question of the future of others.” business, Crispin asserts his belief When not engrossed in matters that this is anchored on consumer Judging from his detailed account business, Crispin enjoys spending centricity, driven by innovation and of his vision for BAT in East Africa, time in the outdoors, reading a good technology. book, jamming to some rock music “As we work to build the enter- it is obvious that Crispin is glad to and spending time with his wife prise of the future, my focus is be back at BAT and has embraced Mercy, son Sean and the family dogs. on simplifying the business to fuel his new role with vigour He is also currently undertaking a investment in our new category master’s degree in business admin- portfolio and sustain growth of our istration at Strathmore University

46 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 47 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business

Interestingly, the public service that Dr. Kinyua under the Kibaki Administration. Prior to serving heads today is nothing like the one he joined in the 80s as the Head of Public Service, Dr. Kinyua was the #11 working as an economist for the Central Bank of Kenya Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Finance in (CBK). Dr. Kinyua joined the public service at a time former President Mwai Kibaki’s administration, having when the headcount for the public sector was consider- been appointed in 2002. Dr. Joseph ably smaller. Historical data from government sources He had a brief detour to Ministry of Agriculture for indicate that in 1980 the public sector workforce was one year in 2003 but was reappointed to Finance to between 350,000 and 400,000 workers. Today, the 2004. He served in this capacity throughout President Kinyua, latest Economic Survey 2020 puts the headcount of Kibaki’s first and second term. It was during the second the civil service at 842,900 as at 2019, which is more term that he established a close rapport with current than double the number in 1980. The government is President Uhuru Kenyatta who was then Deputy Prime EGH therefore larger and the subsequent national budgets Minister and Minister of Finance under the Grand today run in the trillions of shillings, making the job Coalition Government. HEAD OF PUBLIC SERVICE of the Head of Public Service more demanding than Like President Uhuru Kenyatta, who ensured that it has ever been. Dr. Joseph Kinyua is the safe pair of he roped in Dr. Kinyua from the previous administra- hands who has handled this responsibility since the exit tion upon taking office in 2013, President Kibaki also of Francis Kimemia, current governor of Nyandarua, did the same and tapped the skilled technocrat from r. Joseph Kinyua, the Head of Public Service, and before him, Amb. Dr. Francis Muthaura, another the Kanu government. Before becoming PS at the is a career economist who has built a long and career civil servant and current chairman of the Kenya Ministry of Finance in President Kibaki’s administra- distinguished career, spanning more than four Revenue Authority (KRA). tion, Dr. Kinyua was the Chief Economist at the CBK decades in civil service. His knowledge of the under late President Daniel Arap Moi, a position he Dgovernment bureaucracy and influence over its inner Thrives in challenges was appointed to in 2000 after serving as the Director workings is unrivalled. The long-serving civil servant, However, if there is one thing that distinguishes Dr. of Financial Markets at the apex lender for a year. He who has worked in senior roles in successive govern- Kinyua, is that he has served at top levels in three served as Financial Secretary to the Treasury between ments since 1980, heads an office that is charged with administrations but remains humble and with an 1995 and 1999. the effective and efficient running of the government extremely clean records on matters integrity and good machinery. national governance. Taking on the job as Head of This means that Dr. Kinyua’s influence extends far Public Service in 2013 from the National Treasury was As Head of the Public Service, beyond the Executive Office of the President, where not necessarily an easy transition. he serves as Permanent Secretary to the President. The relationship is one of immense trust that he chairs the national security Administratively, he co-ordinates the intra-cabinet daily the President also appointed him the Chief of Staff committee that reports to the work-ins and chairs some critical national committees. at State House at the same time. However, the ever National Security Council in The entire public service falls under his purview. humble, if not aloof career civil servant exercised the His decisions have heavy impact and weight, as he trapping of powers from the two positions honourably addition to handling the day- implements the directives of the President, including and with humility. The soft-spoken Dr. Kinyua man- to-day administration and important instructions such as re-organization of the aged the overwhelming responsibilities of both offices co-ordination of the affairs of this government, issuing circulars and reminding all of stand- commendably, helping the government deliver on key ing government policies across ministries, departments, development projects while ensuring the affairs of State important national institution government agencies and state corporations. House were well run. As Head of the Public Service, he chairs the national Under his day-to-day administrative direction, security committee that reports to the National Security picking the cue form HE the President, government Dr. Kinyua joined the CBK in 1980 as an economist Council in addition to handling the day-to-day admin- services have been brought closer to Kenyans through and rose to the rank of Director of Research. Between istration and co-ordination of the affairs of this import- innovative models such as the globally acclaimed 1985 and 1990, he worked as an economist with the ant national institution. Sensitive discussions involving Huduma Centers. Many of the major development International Monetary Fund (IMF) before returning national security and foreign relations are rarely held projects in transport and infrastructure that had the back to the Central Bank of Kenya. He was a regular without his involvement and he acts as a trusted advisor President’s close attention—such as the construction fixture in meetings between Kenya and international and tough enforcer when critical decisions are made. It of Gauge Railway (SGR), installation financial institutions such as the World Bank (WB) and is a monumental responsibility that demands as much of fiber optic infrastructure, and completion of the the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the 80s and knowledge and mastery of statecraft as it does the obser- Lamu Port, among others—have his invisible finger- 90s. It must be remembered that these were the years vance and practice of the highest standards of integrity— prints given his role as the power behind the gov- when privatization, economic liberalization and free given the immense power and influence that comes with ernment bureaucracy, as well as continuity that he markets took hold. It was also the years when Kenya the job and the potential to change millions of lives for provided, having been the budget accounting officer made strong forays into international capital markets, the better or worse with one decision. as PS Treasury, when these projects were first mooted thanks to interest from international lenders and

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development finance institutions who offered low-interest loans. Dr. Kinyua greatly contributed towards building the instruments of sourcing development cap- ital that have kept our economy a step ahead of regional peers for decades. Dr Kinyua holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Economics from the University of Nairobi (UoN) and briefly lectured at the same institution from 1978 before joining the CBK in 1980.

Humble and hardworking Past holders of Dr. Kinyua’s office include Hon. Francis Kimemia and Amb. Francis Muthaura, who both served under President Kibaki. The late Simeon Nyachae, Sally Kosgei and Jeremiah Kiereini served under President Moi while the Duncan Ndegwa and the late Godfrey Kariithi served under the nation’s Founding Father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. All these individuals had different styles of leadership and different priori- ties, challenges, and successes. However, the common link is that, for the time in FLEXIBILITY TO GET EXTRA which they served, there was no doubt If there is one thing that distinguishes Dr. in anyone’s mind that these individuals Kinyua, is that he has served at top levels in three literally held the levers of power in the administrations but remains humble and with an PERFORMANCE government. The Head of Public Service is extremely clean records on matters integrity and FLEXIBILITY TO GET EXTRA a powerful and influential position where one inevitably makes friends and enemies good national governance. Adapts to different pressure and temperature conditions to protect all the in equal measure. critical engine parts and provide up to 40% better wear protection.** However, for all the influence he PERFORMANCE wields, Dr. Kinyua prefers to take a below- shift from Mercedes Benz to Volks Ws fleet the-radar approach and has kept a low some years back. Indeed, President Uhuru Adapts to different pressure and temperature conditions to protect all the profile for decades. He is also the longest Kenyatta himself is on record describing serving Head of Public Service. Close Dr. Kinyua as “one of most honest and critical engine parts and provide up to 40% better wear protection.** sources quoted in media articles reviewed dedicated people,” he knows. by Business Monthly describe him as a Perhaps it is this humility and com- humble and hardworking public servant mitment to serve the Kenyan Nation that and a devote Roman Catholic who is more has earned Dr. Kinyua a focused and concerned about work and the ensuing well-grounded tenure through three suc- results rather than public display of raw cessive administrations, all with different power. One source says that “even as his focus and approach to matters state. colleagues immerse themselves in flam- None to be involved in petty politics or boyance, he surrenders his government ethnicity, Dr. Joseph Kinyua has been able vehicles on Fridays and uses his private to take differing roles but with increasing cars on weekends, including Pick-Ups.” levels of responsibility while earning deep For instance, he is famed with the effort to respect from everybody who gets to know trim the fuel bill by having the government him well. DRIVE ON

50 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 51 **Based on OM646LA engine test and compared with ACEA A3/B4 specification DRIVE ON

**Based on OM646LA engine test and compared with ACEA A3/B4 specification ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business

Defending the President’s track record plete myriad high priority development projects Known within Government as a strategic think- on time and cost effectively. er, Waita is one of the architects of President A skilled communicator and public relations Kenyatta’s Big 4 Agenda. The Big 4 is a subset guru, Waita has leveraged on his expansive reach #12 of the country’s Vision 2030 blueprint and the and influence on social media – more than 200K primary development focus of the President’s Twitter followers – to engage Kenyans in mean- second term in office. ingful conversations about national development Nzioka Waita Waita has done a commendable job publicly and national values. It is a job that few can do promoting the Big 4 Agenda and consistently well given the unpredictable and volatile nature STATE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF defending President Uhuru Kenyatta’s devel- of debates on social media. Social media debates opment track record. He has achieved this by can quickly turn into nasty arguments and public actively shaping the public narrative around relations crises if not well managed. ew careers in civil service are flagship development projects while simultane- Waita’s ability to remain calm and think more challenging than that of ously ensuring the teams behind these projects clearly in times of crisis has proven invaluable State House Chief of Staff, a role deliver on time and according to plan. During more than once when public opinion shift- currently held by Nzioka Waita. his tenure as Deputy Head of the Public Service, ed against the government over misunderstood FMr. Waita leads the team of dedicated he is reported to have spearheaded the perfor- issues. When a section of Kenyan media promot- advisers who serve as the President’s mance contracting process for Ministries, State ed misguided narratives about the usefulness of executive back office and whose remit is Departments and semi–autonomous government the President’s foreign trips in 2019, for instance, to work behind the scenes to shape pol- agencies creating much needed alignment on the it was Waita’s well-articulated response that icy, firefight, troubleshoot on key issues delivery of flagship development programs. restored reason to the debate. and provide viable solutions that assist On social media, Waita created and pop- the President in his decision making on ularized the #GoKdelivers hash tag, which is a daily basis. It is a demanding job that today the fastest way of finding all information Waita has done a comes with its fair share of intrigue. related to government development projects on commendable job publicly Waita was appointed as Chief of social media at the click of a button. The impact Staff and Head of Delivery in 2018, of #GoKDelivers was felt most in the hotly promoting the Big 4 Agenda earning a quick but well-deserved pro- contested 2017 general elections, where for the and consistently defending motion after just two years serving as first time ever the campaigns centered primarily President Uhuru Kenyatta’s the Deputy Chief of Staff and Deputy on development politics. With the incumbent Head of Public Service under the Head comfortably able to showcase his development development track record. of Public Service, Dr. Joseph Kinya. record in a granular fashion hitherto unseen, the Waita entered public service in 2015 narrative around the President’s scorecard was as the Secretary for Delivery in the unassailable. “One of President Kenyatta’s duties as Head Executive Office of the President. His In early 2019, having identified the short of State is to position Kenya as a force for appointment as Deputy Chief of Staff comings of the delivery model used in President good and a thought leader in the community a year later and subsequent promotion Kenyatta’s first term in office, Waita worked of Nations. A duty he has discharged extremely to the helm of the critical office in closely with the Interior Ministry to reengineer effectively. Foreign travel to advance Kenya’s 2018 reinforced his place as one of the the national government’s delivery framework agenda and sphere of influence is simply part of President’s most trusted advisors and that led to the issuance of Executive Order No the job,” he tweeted. reliable fixers. In the same year that 1/ 2019. This directive from the President cre- Indeed, barely a year after these clarifications, he took charge of personnel at State ated the National Development Implementation the President’s overtures in foreign capitals paid House, he was also appointed as Head Cabinet Committee known in Government circles off. In addition to other diplomatic and trade of the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), as the NDICC. The new framework collocated accomplishments, Kenya was in 2020 elected as which is tasked with tracking, reporting National Government Administration and the a non-permanent member of the United Nations and publicizing the national govern- Delivery Unit as its basic foundational structure (UN) Security Council, the highest decision-mak- ment’s flagship development projects. allowing for better verification of project status ing organ in the UN. at the grassroot by Government administrators, while at the same time creating a structured Successful corporate career filtering processes that guaranteed better quality Waita is a regular fixture in national press and interventions at the top most policy organs of appears on TV and radio to discuss issues of Government. Following the adoption of this new national importance and promote national val- structure, the Government has been able to com- ues. His comfort in front of the camera and

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strong public communications secretary of Kenya’s first sub-sea of Laws (LL. B). Later in his career, Nzioka Waita and skills stem from his time in the fiber optic cable company TEAMS he enrolled in graduate school to fur- his navigator Laban- private sector, where he had a suc- Cliff Onserio pose Limited. Throughout his career, he ther his education, graduating from cessful career in Corporate Affairs for a photo. Photo | has distinguished himself as having Queen Mary University of London at leading communications service Courtesy the uncanny ability to build strong in 2015 with a Masters in Computer provider Safaricom PLC. For those relationships with powerful and and Communications Law. who want to learn, Corporate Affairs influential stakeholders. Many were Raised in a devout Catholic fam- is typically the function charged surprised when he was plucked from ily, Waita spent most of his formative with shaping public reputation and the private sector and parachuted years at renowned catholic school, engaging key external stakeholders into the inner sanctums of power at Saint Mary’s, in Lavington, which in large organizations. State House, underlining the solid counts figures such as President As the Director for Corporate network he built in the public sector Kenyatta, Baringo Senator Gideon Affairs at Safaricom PLC, a role he while still working in the private Moi, award winning actress Lupita served in between 2011 and 2015, sector. Nyong’o, and veteran television jour- Waita was responsible for legal, Waita attended the University of nalist Jeff Koinange, among other public policy, corporate responsi- Sheffield between the years 1996 – leading luminaries, as its alumni. bility, Public Relations (PR) and 1999 and graduated with a Bachelor However, Waita’s friends and Communication. Prior to that, associates credit his humility, street Waita served as Head of Legal and smarts and love for rugby to the Regulatory Affairs between 2007 high school years spent at The and 2011. A skilled communicator and Nairobi School also known within He joined Safaricom in 2001 those circles as ‘Patch’. A married and worked his way up the ranks. public relations guru, Waita has family man, Waita is an ardent fan Between 2003 and 2015, he served leveraged on his expansive reach of motor sports and occasionally as founding trustee to Safaricom and influence on social media – takes part in the Kenya National Foundation, which has deployed bil- Rally Championship Circuit and lions of shillings through the years more than 200K Twitter followers at the time of writing this article, into initiatives in education, health- – to engage Kenyans in meaningful was expected to participate in the care, and conservation. conversations about national long-awaited homecoming of the Waita has held various other World Rally Championship (WRC) positions within the ICT sector development and national values Safari Rally after a lull of about 19 including serving as the company years, as a WRC event.

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f all the Cabinet appointees in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s sec- #13 ond term as Head of State, none was a more surprising choice Othan Farida Karoney, the Cabinet Secretary Farida Karoney for Lands and Physical Planning. With no prior experience in public office or elector- CABINET SECRETARY LANDS al politics, she was in 2018 plucked from AND PHYSICAL PLANNING the private sector to lead a ministry known for its political undertones and long-run- ning disputes, including everything that goes askew with political careers or busi- nesses deal gone sour. Less than five years later, the veteran broadcast journalist has successfully nav- igated the murky waters that is the Lands Ministry, including political intrigues and economic challenges that come with run- ning this highly charged and emotive but equally very important and most sensitive docket. CS Farida Karoney has managed Through timely and personalized media engagements to delivered on key initiatives, includ- ing spearheading the digitization of land in print and broadcast mainstream platforms, CS records, leading to the reissuance of new Farida Karoney is moving with speed to ensure that land titles and deeds, accompanied by all stakeholders are familiar with the new system, important administrative and legislative reforms. including the nuances and benefits accruing from The switch to digitized lands records these reforms dovetailed with new legal instruments is expected to be completed in 2022, representing an important milestone con- sidering initial plans for digitization were the land registration and transfer process, As an example, the Ministry in April mooted in the sunset years of retired rooting out the endemic systemic fraud organized an online training session on President Mwai Kibaki. The most notable and corruption that have long dogged navigating the Ardhisasa Platform for the and indeed historical, is the National land transactions in independent Kenya. membership of the Law Society of Kenya Land Information System (NLIS) dubbed Likewise, the improved and fast-tracked (LSK) in Nairobi. About 1000 lawyers “Ardhisasa,” which enables users to initi- land interface service will enhance revenue joined the technical training session. ate transactions such as official searches, collection by sealing loopholes that have As at the end of April, 2021, more transfer of property and payment of annu- facilitated revenue leakages and outright than 11,000 users had already registered al land rates online without having to visit theft. Landowners will have no room to on the platform, with the number expected lands offices. dodge payment of due taxes as the system to grow steadily as the rollout gains pace The Ministry of Lands and Physical will be linked to external service providers across the country and the minor bugs and Planning reports that 240,000 Nairobi including the Kenya Revenue Authority teething problems are cleaned out. County land parcels have already been (KRA), the National Lands Commission, To be at the epicenter of this transfor- uploaded in the first phase. Records for commercial banks, and other key institu- mation—as is the case with CS Karoney— 20 other counties will be uploaded by tions involved in land matters. is no mean feat. Land transactions are December this year, and the rest by the Through timely and personalized not only politically sensitive, but they end of 2022, a momentous task execut- media engagements in print and broadcast also have the potential to derail economic ed with precision, effectively, efficiently, mainstream platforms, CS Farida Karoney development of the country and hold of behind the scenes and delivered on time is moving with speed to ensure that all investments all together, if poorly man- by a first time Cabinet member. stakeholders are familiar with the new aged. This has historically been the case in Besides reducing transaction times system, including the nuances and benefits infrastructure development, where wheeler and promoting efficiency, the new digital accruing from these reforms dovetailed dealers have pushed the cost of land acqui- service is also expected to seal loopholes in with new legal instruments. sition through the roof by unscrupu-

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be a decision maker in the newsroom at that time and more so, in broadcast media, that showed real happenings, in real time. Likewise, the media industry has undergone tremendous change in the years that CS Karoney has been in exec- utive management. One key change was the migration from analogue to digital broadcast transmission, which compelled broadcasters to invest in new equipment, new and adequate content to keep up with new market demands as well as competi- tion emanating from new entrants in the now expanded digital broadcast space. Another key change was the emergence of online journalism and the now pervasive social media, resulting in the massive fragmentation of the previous most privi- leged media pie. These changes called for decisive actions and prepared her for the fast-paced life of a Cabinet Secretary in a docket as crucial as Lands and Physical lously acquiring land in areas target- Planning. ed for infrastructure development before CS Farida Karoney’s pedigree in reselling it to the government at obscenely change management will once again be high prices—sometimes more than ten- particularly instrumental as she pushes fold despite no meaningful improvement or for the successful roll out of the Ardhisasa development on the land to warrant such platform, which no doubt will face resis- a steep increase in valuation. In a digitized tance from rogue elements who unjustly era, this practice will be nipped in the profited from the old order and largely bud, representing multiple benefits for the the professions that have benefitted from government and ordinary Kenyans, who Head of Editorial between 2007 and 2008. with them at KTN, my first employer. a free for all land transaction juggernaut can now easily get titles and monetize their This is in addition to serving at the media The one person who believed in me was that has been the culture and norm at land holdings by using them as collateral house as Managing Editor between 2004 Lands CS Farida Karoney who was then Ardhi House. when accessing credit from the commer- and 2006 and as a correspondent, report- the Managing Editor at KTN. To everyone CS Farida Karoney attended Kenyatta cial banks. Achieving digitization of Land er, senior reporter, and features editor. CS else, I was too young or too this and that,” University from 1989 to 1992, graduating records is a fulfilment of CS Karoney’s dec- Farida Karoney also worked as a freelanc- said Lilian Muli in an Instagram post cel- with a Bachelor of Science Education laration of, ‘commitment to enhancing the er for Radio France Internationale and ebrating the Lands and Physical Planning degree in Botany and Zoology. She taught quality of human life by providing quality Aljazeera English as a Freelance Producer CS’s cabinet appointment. Biology briefly at Khamis High School in and humane service, as espoused in her in 2007. She is, for all intents and purpos- Mombasa before her entry into journalism LinkedIn profile. es, a media insider, quality that endeared Prepared for the job in 1994. She obtained her Postgraduate During her time with RMS, she was a the brand leadership that Citizen TV has her to many leading politicians and tech- In many ways, CS Karoney’s media career Diploma in Mass Communication (1995- Successful media career key member of a management team that built over the years; thanks in no small nocrats in the government, who always prepared her for the Lands and Physical 1996) from the University of Nairobi Prior to her appointment to the Lands and helped the broadcaster grow its market part to the contributions of CS Karoney, sought her advise on strategies of handling Planning CS job. For, one, the media, too, is (UoN). After a decade in practice, she Physical Planning Ministry, CS Karoney share to become the dominant player in working under the wings of Group CEO media and framing news content. politically sensitive. This was particularly enrolled for her Master of Business was the Chief Operating Officer of Royal radio and TV. For instance, Data from Wachira Waruru and under the umbrella of It is often said that to know a lead- true in the 2007 and 2008 period when CS Administration degree (MBA) specializ- Media Services (RMS), the leading media Kenya Audience Research Foundation media mogul and human rights crusader, er, speak to their followers. Those who Karoney held senior roles in KTN. At the ing in Strategic Management at the UoN conglomerate in East and Central Africa, shows that Citizen TV, the RMS flagship Dr. S.K. Macharia, who is the substantial worked with CS Karoney have positive time, the media was under immense pres- in 2005, graduating in 2008. Perhaps, comprising over tens of radio and television TV channel, commanded a market share shareholder of the RMS Group. things to say about her. Popular Citizen sure to balance its mandate of informing it is from here that CS Farida Karoney stations traversing the entire fabric of the of about 22% in 2019. All its closest com- CS Farida Karoney has also held senior TV journalist, Lilian Muli, is one example. Kenyans with the responsibility to safe- became an efficient and effective strategist country between 2014 and 2018 and before petitors – including KTN, NTV, K24 and roles at the Standard Media Group-owned “Wide eyed...24 years old and I was guard national security following the dev- with analytical, design and problem-solv- then, was the Group Editorial Director from others—had a market share of less than KTN, where she served in different roles given an opportunity to stand with media astating post electoral violence (PEV) that ing skills that is well documented in her 2009 to 2014. 10% each in the same period, underlining as Assistant Director for Broadcasting and giants and report and anchor the news engulfed Kenya. It was not an easy time to LinkedIn profile.

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management by walking around strategy. As he leads the team, CS Balala is the man the country has invested tremen- dous trust in to steer the sector towards a recovery path and then growth, after It is important to the devastating effect occasioned by the note that most of Covid-19 pandemic. Together with travel Kenya’s wildlife and hospitality, tourism is one of the is found outside hardest-hit sectors. Many in these sectors protected areas. It is have lost lives and livelihoods. However, therefore, important with the expected availability of vaccines to empower the in adequate measure, there is hope that local communities, the industry will be cushioned somewhat from worse effects of both the disease and which cohabit economic disasters. with this national On and off the tourism docket, CS heritage.’’ Balala is the lead actor playing a major role in the Kenya Tourism movie, sustain- ing its growth and anchoring hope for the millions of Kenyans whose life and liveli- hood is hinged on the health of the sector. Through his charm and amiable per- sonality, CS Balala is able to work closely with private and institutional investors in the development and offering of world class tourism offerings. He has managed to earn the trust and participation of at the 2019 Global Summit in Seville, witnessed in the period 2018-19 before wildlife conservation and regional develop- Spain. On this occasion, CS Balala was Covid-19 pandemic shook the world. ment agencies to ensure that the economic cited for his work on Social Impact. The CS Balala opines that the travel and potential of this vital sector is prudently annual WTTC Global Champion Awards tourism sectors have to change with the and sustainably exploited. recognizes public officials or countries times to adapt to the dynamic expecta- As an example, CS Balala’s perfor- that, through their leadership, have made tions of the clients in order to offer the mance is best exemplified by the record-set- a difference through unique public pol- kind of products that are constantly in ting tourism performance in 2018 when icies and initiatives that have increased demand and which changes in real time. the country received over two million the competitiveness of the sector within The new norm will have to emphasize on international arrivals. This improved per- their respective countries. The award also health, safety, technology and more so, formance was endorsed by the President recognizes leadership in enabling gender value for money. and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism equality, inclusion and diversity, engaging “As a country, we are diversifying the Council (WTTC), Ms. Gloria Guevara, in local communities, and making the sector product offerings so that the country has on. Najib Balala was appointed to taking care of Kenya’s national heritage of Nairobi, when she symbolically released more attractive for future generations. a range of fresh and differing products on his current position as the Cabinet wildlife. I am always called upon to rescue the WTTC Economic Impact Research CS Balala’s star continue to shine offer. In 2019, for instance, we launched #14 Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife the Ministry when trouble arises such as 2019 for Africa. in global tourism fora, where he has 15 magical Kenya Signature Experiences, by President Uhuru Kenyatta in the Westgate Mall attack by Al Shabab in In 2018, Travel and Tourism grew by been elected twice to chair the prestigious which are a cut above our normal offer- JanuaryH 2018. However, many Kenyans 2013 and now the devastating Covid-19 5.6% and contributed to the creation of global United Nations World Tourism ings. The second phase of this has seen an Hon. Najib might not be aware that Hon. Najib Balala pandemic,” he says. 1.1 million quality jobs for Kenyans. This Organization’s (UNWTO) Executive additional 29 products enlisted, giving a has had a long and distinguished career in He is currently one of the longest-serv- growth rate was faster than the global Council. The Executive Council is the most wider choice of must-visit experiences for Balala the public service since 1998 where it all ing members of the Kenyan Cabinet, with average of 3.9% and the sub-Saharan powerful committee of the UNWTO that local and international travelers, totaling began when he was elected the Mayor of an accumulation of sixteen years serving Africa (SSA) average of 3.3%, making elects the Secretary-General and makes 44 signature experiences across the coun- Mombasa. in different portfolios, eleven of those in Kenya then third largest tourism economy decisions on many critical and strategic try,” the CS adds. CABINET SECRETARY “This is the third time I was being the Tourism docket. History will remember in Africa after South Africa and Nigeria. issues of the organization. For now, CS “Africa, through the African Union TOURISM AND WILDLIFE entrusted with the tourism docket due to him mainly as the specialized Minister for This rare feat earned CS Balala the rec- Balala laments that it will take longer than leadership, must also invest strategically my vast knowledge and experience in this Tourism and Wildlife, the docket in which ognition, and was subsequently bestowed expected for the global tourism and travel in inter-connectivity of the whole conti- field. I was given the added responsibility of he has edged indelible footprints through a with the WTTC Global Champion Award to re-bound to the upward trajectories nent by Air, Railways, Roads and

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Waterways to spur tourism and funded by the government of Kenya and travels among the 1.2 billion inhab- expected to take two months executed by itants of the continent. The same the ministry, the Kenya Wildlife Service must be done by national govern- and the newly created Wildlife Research ments at the local and regional lev- and Training Institute. The information els. One big lesson from the Covid- generated during the census will support 19 pandemic, is the importance of the implementation of the conservation domestic tourism even as we think and tourism policies and support tools for globally,” the CS opines. adaptive wildlife management. In mitigating the effects of the The objectives of the census are to Covid-19 in a bid to keep the sec- determine the country’s wildlife popula- tor open, CS Balala launched the tion and distribution, wildlife population Magical Kenya Tourism and Travel trends over time, identify threats to wild- Health and Safety protocols on July life conservation and management in the 1, 2020. These were vital guidelines country’s landscape, and, suggest strat- to inform the tourism industry on egies for effective wildlife conservation how to operate safely to ensure the and management across the country. “The safety of tourists and the workers in World can learn a lot from Kenya because the sector. we are pioneers in wildlife conservation “In April this year, the Ministry and environmental sustainability, which launched an initiative to vacci- positively impacts sustainable tourism nate 5,000 frontline personnel in through promotion of green tourism activ- the tourism and hospitality sectors ities’,” the CS adds. against Covid-19 disease. This exer- Before his stint as CS Tourism and cise has been going on well across wildlife numbers which are increasing all Wildlife, Hon. Balala was CS Mining. He the country. The exercise is targeting over the country. has also served in the local government returning the sector to normalcy However, climate change is impacting docket as minister in the Coalition gov- as soon as possible while securing negatively on animals such as Elephants ernment. the health of the visitors and other who are not only growing thinner but CS Balala has been Mayor of Mombasa, stakeholders”, CS Balala adds. exacerbating human- wildlife conflict by where he is credited with the transforma- Recently, the CS came out to hotels, lodges and airstrips all over in the wildlife sector too through straying into private farms where they tion of the once sleepy town to its modern publicly support the waiver of pat- the country to unlock the poten- enactment of appropriate policy and destroy crops while searching for food,” status as a City and the epicenter of tour- ents on Covid-19 vaccines as cham- tial and light up the country for a legislative frameworks, which are the CS says. ism on the Coastal beaches of East Africa. pioned by the US government. He In April this massive drive for domestic tourism. already in various stages of formula- In 2020, CS Balala initiated a rhino A gentle giant with a magician’s touch, disclosed in an interview with the year, the This kind of investment in tourism tion,” CS Balala postulates. calf naming ceremony where the money CS Balala was Member of Parliament (MP) local media that he came out to Ministry infrastructure has been done in the CS Balala reports that in 2020, from the historic event was used to estab- for Mvita Constituency between December support this initiative because he launched an past when hotels like the Hilton, the country was excited to witness lish a fund across the country for the 2002 and March 2013, where he is credit- believes that facilitating the produc- initiative to Intercontinental, lodges and airports the increase of the wildlife corridor welfare of park rangers who take care of ed with the most exemplary development tion and distribution of ‘Covid-19 vaccinate all over the country. in and out of Nairobi National Park rhinos. In 2020 alone, 31 rhino calves record by an MP in the history of the vaccines, particularly in Africa, will 5,000 frontline Turning to the Wildlife, CS when the International Livestock were named, raising a total of Ksh3.1 mil- country. Among his signature performanc- make the world a safer place for personnel in Balala’s focus is to improve and Research Institute (ILRI) and Swara lion. The initiative also aims at motivating es was the upgrading of all public primary everyone. No one is safe from this modernize wildlife conservation as it Plains Conservancy declared 32,000 individual parks to compete in facilitating schools in the constituency, reduced the pandemic until everyone is vaccinat- the tourism directly impacts the tourism sector-of and 15,000 acres of land, respective- increased reproduction because the more perennial water problem within the area ed,’ the CS cautions. and hospitality which 70% is wildlife. “It is important ly, for that purpose. In this regard, a their rhinos reproduce, the more money by drilling boreholes in all strategic points, In the mid to long term strate- sectors against to note that most of Kenya’s wildlife title deed was issued to the Nairobi they get into their respective fund. building cabro roads throughout the con- gies, CS Balala envisages an envi- Covid-19 is found outside protected areas. It is National Park for the 2000 acres of 2020 witnessed CS Balala establish- stituency, among others. ronment in which the government disease. This therefore, important to empower the Government land formerly known ing the Wildlife Research and Training CS Balala has sharpened his leadership would invest heavily in the sector, exercise has local communities, which cohabit as Sheep and Goat Research Facility, Institute in Naivasha. The facility aims to and management skills by attending an as it did in the 70’s in a bid to been going on with this national heritage, to be which is adjacent to the Park, all coordinate and undertake academic and executive program on International Urban spur the growth in the sector in well across the better custodians and stewards of this achievement was after years of practical training in wildlife in the country. Management at the University of Toronto order to recover from the devasta- wildlife conservation through com- intense lobbying by his team. In May, 2021, CS Balala launched the and on Leadership and Governance at the tion unleashed by the Covid-19 pan- country. ” munity-driven conservancies. There “The wildlife sector is very excit- first-ever National Wildlife Census cover- Harvard University Kennedy School of demic. This could involve building - CS Balala is going to be major transformation ing. We have tamed poaching and ing both land and aquatic wildlife, fully Government.

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the successful issuance of Kenya’s debut $2 billion (Sh211 billion) Eurobond in #15 2014 – the largest sovereign debut debt issue in sub-Saharan Africa to date and, Paul’s move to ICEA Paul Muthaura earning the respected 2014 African Deal LION General Insurance of the Year at the Global Capital Emerging undoubtedly represents Markets Bond Awards. MBS Overall, Paul Muthaura has more than the biggest shift in two decades of experience in senior lead- his illustrious career. CEO ICEA LION GENERAL INSURANCE ership positions in the capital markets Unlike his previous and the public sector. He has served as roles, which were ew individuals have had a greater impact Chairman of Africa and Middle East at the predominantly in the on the growth and development of Kenya’s International Organization of Securities public sector, this financial industry over the past decade than Commissions (IOSC) in Madrid, Spain. one is in the private Paul Muthaura, the current CEO of ICEA His time with IOSC was challenging and sector. FLION General Insurance. dynamic as the world was emerging out of A lawyer by profession and an Advocate of the the 2008 Global Finance Crisis and look- High Court, Paul was appointed to the CEO position ing for sustainable solutions to strengthen by the Board of Directors in October 2020 following markets. He was elected to the IOSC board the retirement of Steven Oluoch, a long-serving CEO committee responsible for developing solu- of the insurance firm. tions for financing infrastructure develop- Before his stint at the corner office of the ICEA ment through the capital markets. LION Group owned general insurer, Paul is remem- Paul also served as Chairman of bered as a long serving CEO of the Capital Markets the East African Securities Regulatory Authority (CMA), where among other achievements, Authorities (EASRA); Board Member he earned the distinction of being an innovative, at the Retirements Benefits Authority results-oriented leader who elevated the regional and (RBA); Board Member at Vision 2030 international profile of the regulator while promoting Delivery Board; and Board Member at ethics, good corporate governance practices, and the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA). past century by its parent company, ICEA ers who interact with the brand. This is investor protection in the capital markets. He served on the Advisory Committee of LION Group. understandable considering ICEA then, the East Africa Private Equity and Venture ICEA LION General Insurance han- was the first major locally owned insur- Illustrious career Capital Association and the Securities dles all general insurance business for ance company in Kenya after foreign During his seven-year tenure, the CMA was ranked Advisory Board of the Toronto Centre for ICEA LION Group, a financial industry shareholders sold their interests to a the most innovative capital markets regulator in Leadership in Financial Supervision. titan offering products and services in life group of pioneering local investors in Africa by the prestigious International Finance (IF) Paul’s move to ICEA LION General and general insurance, pensions, invest- 1976, opening a new chapter for the Magazine for five consecutive years (2015-2019). Insurance undoubtedly represents the big- ments, and trusts across Kenya, Uganda, industry and the company, whose roots Likewise, the Investor Compensation Fund, which is gest shift in his illustrious career. Unlike his and Tanzania. Other subsidiaries within date back to 1895 at the very beginning aimed at compensating investors who suffer financial previous roles, which were predominantly ICEA LION Group include ICEA LION of Kenya’s insurance industry. losses resulting from the failure of a licensed broker in the public sector, this one is in the pri- Life Assurance, which handles all life While ICEA LION Group’s strong or dealer, grew more than tenfold from Sh210 million vate sector. The private sector is profit-ori- insurance business; ICEA LION Asset brand heritage works in favor of Paul, to over Sh3 billion at the time of his exit. ented, making leadership positions in the Management, which handles all invest- he is also leading the general insurance The CMA successfully cracked down on a num- corporate world highly rewarding but at ment; and ITSL Trust Company Ltd, business at a time when ICEA LION ber of financial misconduct at the Nairobi Securities the same time very challenging due to which handles scheme administration, Group has onboarded new global part- Exchange (NSE), the most prominent of which was factors such as competition, unpredictable corporate trusteeship, trusts and related ners following the strategic partnership thwarting insider trading attempts on the Kenol market conditions and high and often rest- financial solutions in Eastern Africa. entered with global financial powerhouse Kobil counter ahead of the company’s 2018 takeover less shareholder expectations. Through a series of mergers over the Prudential Financial. Through Leapfrog by French oil marketer, Rubis Energy. decades, ICEA LION Group has evolved Strategic Investments, Prudential Another noteworthy milestone achieved by Paul Leveraging on a strong brand into one of the most recognizable and Financial acquired a 24% stake in ICEA at CMA was the conceptualization and development Fortunately for Paul Muthaura, he has dominant brands in the financial services LION Group in mid-2020, allowing the of the Authority’s 2014 - 2023 Master Plan, which taken over leadership at ICEA LION industry. However, despite offering a wide group to tap into Prudential’s glob- was adopted as the principal government policy doc- General Insurance at a time when the range of products and services, insurance al expertise. Prudential has more than ument on securities market development. He was a firm is arguably in its best form thanks remains its bread and butter as well as the 50 million customers in 40 countries key member of the multi-agency team that oversaw to the strong brand equity built over the main touchpoint for majority of consum- around the world and has more

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Law (LL.B) degree from the University of Warwick (UK), (1996-1999); a Master’s of Law degree (Banking and Finance Law) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London THE AMREF (UK); a Master’s degree in Philosophy from the Maastricht School of Management MEDICAL in the Netherlands (2011-2013); an Executive Post Graduate Diploma in CENTRE Financial Management from Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) University in Kenya (2006-2007); and a Post Graduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting from the School of Advanced Study, University of London Open: Monday to Friday | 8.00AM - 5.00PM (UK) (2007). “I’ve always enjoyed learning and inter- acting with people from diverse back- Established in 1984, the Amref OUR SERVICES grounds. Before enrolling for Law in the Medical Centre is an outpatient U.K., I had the privilege of studying in clinic offering quality primary health Belgium (EU) and New York (NY) US. I General Consultation: Our general consultation service, will enable us to work care including disease prevention than $1.5 trillion in assets under its facilities following the easing of Covid-19 have also studied in Kenya. This exposure with you to identify your health needs, track your progress if you are already and screenings; diagnosis and prudential management. Pandemic restrictions and more cars com- makes me comfortable interacting with receiving care, and improve your general health. It is expected that Paul’s stewardship ing back to the roads, general insurance is people from diverse backgrounds and expe- treatment of various types of of the general insurance line of business likely to grow at an accelerated pace in next riences,” he adds. illnesses. The Centre also offers Laboratory Services: Our in-house laboratory is ISO15189:2012 accredited puts him in the cockpit as far as steering few months. The outlook could not be more After graduating with his Law degree, education about disease prevention with a team of capable and available technicians working with the patient care the Group’s long-term growth is concerned. favorable than it is now, underlining the Paul worked briefly as an advocate of and/or treatment; has a wellness team to provide reliable test results, which support clinical decision making, General insurance is still the dominant exciting opportunity for Paul and his team the High Court of Kenya with Daly and ensuring your treatment and management is embarked on, without delay. Our line of insurance business in Kenya and no to capitalize on. Figgis Advocates (now CMS Daly Inamdar clinic and also provides travel and diagnostic laboratory services include molecular tests like the PCR COVID-19 insurance company can build meaningful “My ambition for the business is clear Advocates) where he advised clients on routine vaccinations. We want to scale without dealing with it. For instance, and simple: we want to build on our legacy issues involving corporate and commercial enable you to stay healthy and live test. industry data published by IRA, the insur- as a leading provider of insurance solu- law. your best life. ance industry regulator, shows that in 2019 tions while advancing our position as the Paul Muthaura is an Honorary Fellow Vaccination Services: We have a robust vaccines program - including all general insurance accounted for 57.6 per industry’s north star in customer experi- of The Institute of Certified Secretaries routine (including well baby) and travel vaccines - provided in line with the cent or Sh132.1 billion of the Sh229.5 bil- ence excellence,” Muthaura told Business (FCS) (2017) and a Certified Executive National Immunization Program. lion gross premiums collected by insurance Monthly in a write-up. Coach from The Academy of Executive 30,000 travelers have Medical Examinations: We provide corporate and individual medical firms in the year – life insurance, sometimes Coaching (AoEC) (2015), an accreditation chosen us as their also referred to as long-term insurance, Academic excellence he earned early on in his career following examination to determine overall physical health including new employee COVID-19 testing facility. accounted for the remainder. Another remarkable quality in Paul’s favor his realization that well mentored teams onboarding, occupational health & safety, employment, fitness assessment to The same Data from IRA also indi- is his commitment to academic excellence. working together and not individual efforts return to work after prolonged absence due to illness or accidents, among cates that by the end of 2020, ICEA LION His achievements in boardrooms and the held the key to transformative growth in others. General Insurance had gross premiums of corporate sector mirror similar feats in organizations. “I pursued the qualification Book an appointment Sh6.05 billion, putting it in the top seven in the classroom. He holds a Bachelor’s of as an executive coach in order to advance today on: www.amc. Corporate Wellness Programme: Our corporate wellness programs are terms of market share in a market with 38 and unlock the value of those working with amref.org/appointment licensed general insurance providers. me,” the seasoned executive opines. uniquely tailored to meet the needs of your teams and orgaisation. The outlook for the general insurance Overall, Paul Muthaura In recognition of his contributions to business in Kenya is improving following has more than two decades building Kenya’s profile as a regional finan- Pharmacy Services: We have a fully stocked pharmacy with a pharmacist the Covid-19 Pandemic-induced slowdown cial hub, Paul Muthaura was conferred the available to support evidence-based medical treatment and who can guide you Lang’ata Road, Opposite in 2020, which resulted in gross premi- of experience in senior award of The Moran of the Order of the through your treatment journey from when your medicine is prescribed and ums declining to Sh130.83 billion from Burning Spear (MBS) by the President of Lang’ata Road Primary leadership positions in the during its use. Sh132.10 billion a year earlier, with motor capital markets and the Kenya. School and medical classes accounting for close to Paul is viewed by those who know him 70 per cent of general insurance business. public sector closely, as a financial markets development With more people visiting health care and regulation thought leader. +254 (0)20 699 4646 www.amc.amref.org [email protected] 66 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 67 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business

The tax evasion menace is not only on Transparency and Exchange of a national but also a global setback that Information for Tax Purposes (TEITP) #16 robs governments of billions of dollars in in December 2021. The initiative is a expected revenue annually. Experts hold continental programme launched in 2014. Equipped with his vast that if the amount of revenue lost to tax TEITP aims at unpacking the benefits of Githii Mburu evasion was to end up in the right coffers, tax transparency and exchange of infor- wealth of experience no tax administration authority or service mation (EOI) to fight tax evasion and CBS spanning over 20 years would ever miss its collection targets. other illicit financial flows (IFFs) and serve in tax administration A 2020 article, ‘Global Alliance for Tax African countries’ development. COMMISSIONER GENERAL Justice’ estimates that countries are losing The KRA CG is a Member of the KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY among other key strategic over $427 billion in tax every year to inter- Governing Council of the Africa Tax disciplines, Githii Mburu national corporate tax abuse and private Administration Forum (ATAF). He was The uncompromising soldier on war has demonstrated that the tax evasion. A breakdown of this amount voted during the ATAF General Assembly against tax evasion of revenue and its worth in terms of the meeting in November 2021. The Governing war against tax evasion impact it could have had if it found its way Council is the organ responsible for guid- and related crimes can to the revenue coffers explains why tax ing ATAF in achieving its vision, mission and will be won. evasion needs to be dealt with head-on and and objectives for African tax administra- better strategies implemented, especially tions institutions. e’s famed for his strong and uncom- on plugging the leakages that facilitate CG Mburu’s leadership vision and promising stand against tax evasion international corporate tax abuse. style is anchored on four key pillars: and other tax crimes that are an It is against this backdrop that Githii integrity, performance, customer focus and affront to effective revenue collection Mburu has consistently been conspicuous staff motivation. Towards this, for instance, effortsH in the country. on the frontline taking this bull by the the tax malpractices that he has been Driven by a strong conviction of the great horns. Equipped with his vast wealth of burning the midnight oil on melt down potential our country has in mobilisation of experience spanning over 20 years in tax to a poor score on the integrity scale. It is domestic resources, he has continued to imple- administration among other key strategic for this reason that he has demonstrated ment key strategic measures to ensure that disciplines, Githii Mburu has demonstrat- unmatched passion in promoting a 100 every eligible taxpayer remit what is rightfully ed that the war against tax evasion and per cent integrity score in the tax adminis- payable. Actually, his mantra is, pay your fair related crimes can and will be won. tration process. And because it takes two share of tax, not a shilling more, not a shilling Among landmark tools that have to tango, he has committed to ensure that less. been implemented under his leadership there is high integrity among the KRA That’s the Kenya Revenue Authority to bolster the war against tax evasion is employees and the taxpayers at large. (KRA) Commissioner General (CG) Githii the iWhistle platform. The iWhistle is an Borrowing from the words of Richard Mburu. Even before his appointment to take anonymous reporting channel for malprac- Branson, “…if you take care of the employ- over the corner office at the KRA, Mburu was tices that undermine KRA’s endeavours ees, they will take care of the clients”, CG a known figure in the public domain, best in revenue collection. The iWhistle is the Githii Mburu has the welfare of the KRA known for his unrelenting combat against hallmark of intelligence gathering mecha- employees at heart. Since his appointment the tax evasion monster. He was then the nisms that KRA is leveraging on to tackle to the position, hundreds of staff have been Commissioner for Intelligence and Strategic tax malpractices, tax crimes and profes- promoted, majority of whom had served at Operations (ISO), a department he headed sional misconduct, with a seamless guide same positions for over ten years. It is also from 2017 to 2019 when he was appointed to assist in reporting. Tax payer Education during his tenure that the terms of service Commissioner General, following an open, has also been improved and made a prior- for hundreds of employees who were previ- transparent and competitive recruitment pro- ity area, with opportunity also for any tax ously on short term contracts were revised cess. queries to be promptly handled. to permanent and pensionable basis. The It was under his leadership as head of the Mburu’s fight against tax malpractices terms of service for the few employees on Intelligence department that for the first time has not only been felt in the country but short term contracts are set to change in in Kenya, mega tax evasion scandals were also echoed beyond our borders. It must the second phase. This action is an exam- unearthed and related schemes foiled. The have been on this account, coupled with ple of employee motivation, which also perpetrators behind the scandals, who includ- other competencies that Githii Mburu include improvement and enhancement of ed holders of important public offices, were got appointed the first Chairperson of the employee remuneration packages. brought to book to answer to various charges Africa Initiative (AI), an institution of the In addition to these employee moti- related to tax evasion. Organisation for Economic Co-operation vation, CG Mburu is equally keen on and Development (OECD) Global Forum employee performance as the only

68 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 69 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business

way to realise the broader KRA goal. 2021 gets 100% remission on penalties and To this end, the CG has instituted measures CG Mburu’s leadership vision interest accrued. This is a major transfor- for monitoring and evaluating employee and style is anchored on four key mation from the KRA yester-years. performance in the dispensation of their pillars: integrity, performance, The primary indicator that anyone will respective mandates. customer focus and staff motivation. look for in judging the performance of Given the critical role that KRA plays Towards this, for instance, the tax a taxman is the amount of revenue he/ in the country, the CG is also keen on malpractices that he has been she collects at the end of the day vis-à-vis ensuring that KRA achieves its goal of burning the midnight oil on melt the set revenue targets. The fruits of the fully transforming into a customer-centric aforementioned leadership strategies that organisation. This transformation journey down to a poor score on the CG Mburu has been implementing are kicked off a few years ago and aims to shed integrity scale. already an open book. Despite the econom- off the traditional enforcement approach ic hardships occasioned by the Covid-19 as a primary tool for tax administration For instance, through initiatives like pandemic, KRA has managed to register and adopting a more facilitative approach. KRA Care, KRA now ‘believes in second impressive revenue collection especially in Realignment with customer-centrism has chances’ where any tax payer who applies the second half of the 2020/2021 financial become a global phenomenon for most tax for Voluntary Tax Disclosure Programme year. For instance, in April, 2021, KRA col- administrations and jurisdictions. (VTDP) between now and December 31, lected Ksh176.7 billion shillings against a target of Ksh170.2 billion. This translated to a 23.9 per cent increase in the revenue collected. The stellar revenue collection points to a very resilient economy with unmatched potential to mobilise enough domestic resources that can comfortably finance our country’s development agenda. This aligns to the vision the KRA CG Mburu has and will continue to be actualised when indeed, both corporates and individuals pay their fair share of taxes due, not a shilling more, not a shilling less. This is the mantra that fires under the belly of KRA CG Githii Mburu.

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eoffrey Otieno Odundo is the Chief Executive of the Nairobi Securities Exchange PLC (NSE) the largest stock Since taking over as CEO, #17 Exchange in East and Central Africa. Geoffrey has seen the GAppointed CEO of NSE on March 3, 2015, Geoffrey Odundo Geoffrey is an accomplished Investment Banker transformation of the NSE and has been in the financial services sector for from a service to a commercial CEO NAIROBI SECURITIES EXCHANGE (NSE) the last 27 years, 21 of which have been in the Capital Markets. infrastructure. This has seen In his current role, Geoffrey has spearheaded NSE formulate strategic the development of innovative financial solutions interventions aimed for both investors and issuers, making the NSE the second most product diverse market in Africa. at repositioning the Through his leadership, the NSE is now a organization as a venue of member of the World Federation of Exchanges capital access and wealth (WFE), a leading member of the Morgan Stanley Composite Index (MSCI) - Frontier Markets, the creation, a champion of second exchange in Africa with a Derivatives corporate governance Market and a champion of Sustainability in the even while enhancing region. Thus, supporting Kenya’s aspiration to become Africa’s premium financial services hub diversity among its by the year 2030 and well in line with our national listed companies development plan, Vision 2030. and improving on His time has focused on widening the breath, depth and diversity of products at the exchange. its operational The NSE now takes pride in offering seven asset efficiency classes among them listed equities, listed sover- eign, corporate and green bonds; exchange traded funds, real estate investment trusts, the derivatives market and the world’s first retail mobile govern- Linkage Project (AELP), which is a market companies, improved investor relations, Central Depository and Settlement ment bonds. integration platform linking eight Security enhanced bilateral and multilateral ini- Corporation, a Director of the NSE Clear, Geoffrey has also spearheaded the establish- Exchanges in Africa with the objective of tiatives, and improving the listing envi- and a trustee of the NSE Fidelity Funds. ment of the exchange incubation, an acceleration facilitating cross—border trading, further ronment to potential issuers to access the Geoffrey is a member of the Central Bank platform “Ibuka” which targets to prepare com- cementing trade and integration of Africa’s market. Consolidative Forum for Domestic Debt panies for accessing capital market opportunities economies. Over the course of his career, Geoffrey Market (CFDDM), a member of the work- within a regulatory environment designed specifi- With the NSE’s renewed focus on has contributed immensely towards ing group of the World Federation of cally to meet their needs. sustaining business growth, strengthening the growth of the Capital Markets in Exchanges and a Council Member of the The NSE has during Odundo’s tenure devel- partnerships and co-creation relationships, Kenya through current and former Institute of Certified Investment Financial oped the Unquoted Securities Platform (USP) for driving innovation, improving operational roles as a Director/Board Secretary, Analysts (ICIFA). He is also a Director of trading of non-listed securities. excellence and strengthening the people Kenya Association of Stock Brokers the Association of the Stock Exchanges Since taking over as CEO, Geoffrey has seen talent, Geoffrey has galvanized his team and Investment Banks, Chairman of the of Africa (ASEA) and is a Member of the transformation of the NSE from a service to to deliver on this key strategic direction. Financial Standards Committee - Kenya the Thomson Reuters Africa Customer a commercial infrastructure. This has seen NSE He aspires to improve the uptake of the Bureau of Standards as well as being Advisory Network. formulate strategic interventions aimed at repo- NSE products, grow the domestic pools a Board Director of Nairobi Securities Geoffrey Odundo holds a Master’s sitioning the organization as a venue of capital of capital especially the retail market Exchange PLC. degree in Strategic Management from the access and wealth creation, a champion of corpo- segment, increase the investment access Geoffrey has advised on a number United States International University rate governance even while enhancing diversity channels and enhance financial literacy to of corporate finance mandates in both (USIU)-Africa and an undergraduate among its listed companies and improving on its all in Kenya. the public and private sectors; he has degree in Mathematics and Economics operational efficiency. With the growing interest from inter- also managed key mandates in the asset from the Egerton University (EU). A prac- On a Pan African standpoint, Geoffrey has national and regional investors seeking management industry through leading in ticing Roman Catholic, Geoffrey is also an been instrumental in strengthening the secretar- market beating returns in Africa, Geoffrey various senior roles in asset management, Advanced Management Program (AMP) iat of the Africa Stock Exchanges Association; is has compounded this interest through corporate finance and securities trading. graduate from Strathmore and IESE among the pioneer CEOs of the African Exchange improving corporate access to listed He is currently a Director of the Business Schools.

72 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 73 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business #18 Dr. Rakesh Rao GROUP CEO CROWN PAINTS KENYA PLC

Wherever you meet him, Dr. Rakesh Rao talks endlessly and knowledgeably on technology and his transformation in the paint manufacturing and distribution industry.

or the longest time, paint in Kenya was just paint. Until one day a man bestrode the land and changed the way we see and interact with paint. Dr. Rakesh Rao is his name, the current Group joining Crown Paints Kenya, the company was FCEO of Crown Paints Kenya Plc. one of just a painted walls business. Dr. Rakesh According to those who know him, his moment of Evidently, Dr. Rakesh Rao’s had caught the paint bug, saw the potential and truth came the day he realized that paint in Kenya, is success has much to do with his transformed the wall to a surfaces business, by treated as an afterthought, coming at the tail end of management style and acumen, expanding to areas like roof and floor paint, projects and allocated only 1 per cent of the total costs! waterproofing solutions, adhesives and industrial It is the day Dr. Rao knew something had to be done. with his commitment to the and designer coatings to grow the business and Looking around now, with all the development in the customer experience, another introduce new revenue streams. paint industry, it is clear that something has been done. key attribute. He subscribes to In addition to a focus on paints, he predicted Because, today thanks to his vision, building develop- that advanced paint technology was the future. ers are taking a keener interest in the quality of paint, the idea of ‘the Customer is King’ He was quick to tap into this and spearhead- number of coats of paints to apply and the type of paint and that serving the customer ed the introduction of quality products which suitable according to the development soil site. Thanks is the only way to guaranteed offer longevity as being more cost effective and to Dr. Rakesh Rao, the appearance of buildings, after economical on the long term for the consumer. the last coat of paint, including colour coding, is now success and corporate He not only though of the bottom line for the of prime importance. You search for an industry trans- sustainability company. He revelled at the bottom line as well, formative leader; Dr. Rakesh Rao is one in the building how he would unleash superior customer expe- construction industry. For starter, he has changed the rience by offering quality, long life and value for Nairobi’s skyline. From monotonous blue and white and Dr. Rakesh came to Kenya in 2005 to head money, that Crown Paints are now known for. He yellow, the site to behold is a rainbow of quality colors, Crown Paints Kenya Plc. He joined the company therefore introduces a number of new technol- textures and designs. at a time when the company had been around for ogy products, among them Crown Silicone, an Who really is this man? This man is one of the four decades and could do with some revamping. additive from Germany which gives Crown paint 25 CEOs we are celebrating in this issue, the one our Turnover then was touching on Ksh 1.2billion, products dust and water repellence and Crown research indicated, was voted CEO of the year 2014 at but with little or no regional presence. Employee Antibacterial paint that protects from infectious the Company of the Year Awards (COYA), the man who morale was at its lowest. germs and perfect for high traffic areas. was shortlisted as a notable Africa Business Leader by Dr. Rakesh quickly settled down to work. Wherever you meet him, Dr. Rakesh Rao CNBC, the same man who led Crown Paints Kenya Plc First off, the grid, he laid down his vision, talks endlessly and knowledgeably on technology to enjoy their name by being crowned overall winner put together a vibrant and dedicated team to and his transformation in the paint manufactur- Company of the Year Award (COYA) in 2016. We took drive innovation and change, and set his eyes ing and distribution industry. time to talk to him for this recognition and this is his on changing a firm and an industry that had In management, Crown Paints was the first story. underperformed for decades. At the time of his to leverage Enterprise Resource Planning

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OTHER AWARDS To become the number one brand in the market 2016 – Overall Winner is easy, however; COYA Company of the Year Award maintaining the position 2014 - Winner is so difficult, as a result COYA CEO of the Year Award we always focus on 2013, 2014, 2015 – Finalist creating brand value CNBC Businessman of the year Award through innovation, 2013 – Winner unrivalled customer COYA Innovation & Information service and staying Management Award customer centric in- 2012 –Winner service delivery.” COYA Financial Management Award 2011 – Shortlisted CNBC Businessman of the year Award

ing back to the community around them. ACHIEVEMENTS This social consciousness has seen the company spend millions of shillings annu- ally to transform lives of the less fortunate. • Sales Revenue Growth - Increased annual Beyond this, his commitment to sales from $10m to $100m since 2005 till date. up-skill painters on technical and soft (ERP) solution SAP to drive oper- in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. Dr. • Production Capacity – increased annual skills and his desire to empower painters ation efficiency and growth, giving the Rakesh Rao has so far spearheaded the production capacity from 5m litres to 45m litres. through the first painter loyalty program business data analytics to enhance deci- launch of 17 new products which con- in East Africa dubbed ‘Team Kubwa’, • Regional Expansion – Led Crown Paints sion making, efficiency of the operations tribute to an additional 19% of revenue (under the name Regal Paints) to establish marks him out as a man committed to to better serve customers through bet- and growth. plants in Uganda and as Crown Paints in improving the lives of youth in East Africa. ter supply to customers and fill rate. Evidently, Dr. Rakesh Rao’s success Tanzania and Rwanda to expand opportunities “Painters remain significant partners Probably this is how he caught the eyes has much to do with his management in the East African Market for brand growth. the number one brand in the market is of a call centre and a new world-class in our value chain and therefore, when the of the Kenya Institute of Management style and acumen, with his commitment easy, however; maintaining the position is experiential showroom that boasts of a Covid-19 Pandemic hit, we cushioned their • Profitability – Improved profitability from (KIM). to the customer experience, another key $0.3m to $6m since 2005. so difficult, as a result we always focus on virtual color visualizer, a dedicated color financial burden by introducing redemp- In the home décor space, introduc- attribute. He subscribes to the idea of creating brand value through innovation, consultant and a computerized tinting tion of Naivas e-vouchers and MPESA • Share Price – Increased share price from Ksh 7 tion of the Crown Colour App to give ‘the Customer is King’ and that serving unrivalled customer service and staying machines which can dispense a range of instantly anywhere, anytime to safeguard to Ksh 45 and improved market cap by 8-fold. homeowners the power to pick paint the customer is the only way to guar- customer centric in-service delivery”. over 6,000 shades in minutes, thereby them during this tough economic period.” colours and draw inspiration from our anteed success and corporate sustain- • Market Share – Improved market share from Another milestone for Kenya that Dr. making the showrooms a one stop shop Along with this, Team Kubwa Sacco was curated colour schemes is a novel in the ability. To this end, he says, quality is 48% to 65% in Kenya for premium segment. Rakesh Rao has contributed is the rise and experience to behold for all Crown also born to instill the saving culture in country. a way of life at Crown Paints and he • New Products – Launched 17 new products to of the employee compliment from 150 to Paints products,’ Dr Rakesh adds. painters, most of whom would rather live Today, Crown Paints has grown in has engrained this through Operational increase revenue significantly since 2005. over 1,000 to date, in quality full time However, another striking attribute of hand to mouth. leaps and bound; its premium segment Excellence strategies implemented • Technology – First to launch digital platforms employment. Dr. Rakesh Rao, is his passion for the local Dr Rakesh has a passion for golf to has grown from 48% to 65%, turnover through Six Sigma, Kaizen, ISO and Up for home décor in East Africa i.e., Painters’ Most of these additional employees community; first the community where wind down and earmarks quality time for revenues have grown from the Ksh1.2 Your Service tools. loyalty program and mobile applications such as are in ensuring customer-centric culture. Crown Paints works and operates and family. This busy man, a captain of indus- billion when Dr. Rakesh Rao ascended Focus on quality is meant that the the Crown Colour App. “Our strategy around growth and expan- second, the greater community in which try in effect, is able to do all this, by calmly to the helm as CEO to Ksh. 9 billion. business has had to invest in its people, • Operations – Successfully implemented sion remains to take our products closer Crown Paints ultimately exists. He sees mastering the art of work/life balance, a In addition, Crown Paints remains the through employee continued develop- Operational Excellence tools such as as Six to customers and support our dealers himself and Crown Paints as a product of rare feat among his peers. Dr. Rakesh Rao leading paint and surface coating man- ment and training and by instilling a Sigma, Kaizen, ISO, BSC and UP Your Service for to increase their sales in new innovative the community and works to uplift the less summed up the interview with his mantra, ufacturer in East Africa, with diverse high-performance culture. In his own continuous improvement. ways. This enhancement in customer expe- fortunate, acknowledging that the society ‘ being passionate, honest, humble and products and with a regional presence words, Dr Rakesh Rao says, “to become rience has been through the introduction will not thrive without those who have giv- most of all, God fearing”.

76 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 77 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business #19 Hussein Ibrahim

MD&CEO INCHCAPE KENYA

nchcape plc is an independent, mul- ti-brand, most trusted automotive distrib- utor with operations that span countries on five continents. It is also involved in theI retail and services of top car brands. The company is headquartered in London, United Kingdom and has operations in 34 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and South America. In Kenya, Inchcape operates as the official distributor for Jaguar Land Rover and BMW, being a key strategic partner to the world’s foremost premium and luxury car brands for whom Inchcape provides an effective, well-financed and customer focussed route to ness in Uganda to lead brand growth Subaru Kenya as the regional man- Last year, amid the COVID-19 market for both sales and service for new and in that region. ager for Subaru operations in Kenya, Pandemic, Inchcape Kenya success- used cars and parts. In 2016, Hussein joined Toyotsu Uganda and Tanzania, with respon- fully relaunched the Land Rover Looking after the operations of Inchcape Automart, a Toyota Corporation sub- sibilities for the entire group, and Defender, with his team winning Kenya is Hussein Ibrahim, one of the to-go-to sidiary, as the vehicles procurement Oriel Ltd. – a leader and specialist in the ‘Best launch concept in SSA’ contact person for anything premium cars in manager. Toyotsu is a top-end pre- vehicle suspension systems. award. The relaunched Land Rover the country and indeed, the larger Eastern owned car dealer in the country. His Hussein was head hunted and Defender has also been voted as the Africa region. role involved sourcing of quality joined Inchcape Kenya as the MD ‘Best Design’ during the 2021 Car Known to many in the motor industry as cars, a job that he did so well and for Kenya and the Inchcape hub Design of the Year award. one of the few honest and diligent in work put pre-owned cars at Toyotsu into that comprises 7 other East African Inchcape Kenya has also won an ethics, Hussein started his journey of deal- the map as the go to place for certi- countries, in charge of Jaguar Land award for ‘Best Customer Service’ in ing with cars, at the University of Eastern fied used cars. Hussein was part of Rover, BMW and BMW Motorrad. the region by Jaguar Land Rover. Africa Baraton, where he pursued a Bachelor the team that set up standards for According to Hussein, ‘With premi- of Science (BSc) degree in Automotive the trade-in process that involves um products that we sell at Inchcape Engineering between 2003 and 2005, a jour- car valuation, preparation and refur- Kenya, customer service is of utmost ney that would see him crossing the Atlantic bishment, a process that Toyota uses importance, to ensure excellent Ocean to US, to complete his degree between to-date. Hussein was head hunted experiences at the dealership and in 2009 at the University of Central Missouri Hussein Ibrahim was so good and joined Inchcape Kenya as with their cars’. (UCM). at his job, understood the techni- Already under his leadership, Upon completing studies in the US, cal and commercial aspects of the the MD and CEO for Kenya Inchcape Kenya recorded the highest Hussein returned to Kenya and joined Subaru job, leading to his appointment as and the Inchcape hub that sales of accessories in sub-Saharan Kenya in 2010 as a Car Diagnostic Specialist. the Sales and Marketing manager comprises 7 other East African Africa region last year. Hussein over- He rose through the ranks in after sales for this Toyota subsidiary, sustaining countries, in charge of Jaguar saw the set-up of the BMW state of focusing in service, parts, and into top man- strong sales volumes until his depar- Land Rover, BMW and BMW the art showroom at One Africa and agement, being among the team that set up ture in 2018. Motorrad, taking over the state of the art service workshop at Subaru branches and assisting the dealerships Having gained experience in the franchise from RMA. Delta Tower Annex in Westlands. across the country. He later was appointed as technical and sales aspect of auto- As an additional business stream, the General Manager (GM) for Subaru busi- motive, he left Toyotsu and returned Hussein also acquired the

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up coming to the dealer when the car has serious issues, this usual- ly translates to rather large repair bills. On most occasions this will be the first interaction they have with the dealership and this subsequently creates the wrong perception. This is like coming for a heart surgery when all you needed was going for regular check-ups, which is definitely cheap- er than the compulsory heart surgery at that point in time,’ adds Hussein. This wrong perception is howev- er changing, as customers who prefer new cars are now more exposed, tech savvy, and with all information they need readily available on their smart phones, says Hussein. For future and despite of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hussein sees a surge of more Land Rover Defenders on the road. BMW Motorrad brand from the Inchcape Kenya MD Kenya market. a choice between car + charging BMW Motorrad is also back on NMG Group CEO Stephen Gitagama (left) previous retailer. Hussein’s passion Hussein Ibrahim Jaguar Land Rover recently equipment and convenient charging the Kenyan map as the luxury motor- receives keys to a Jaguar E-pace from in the current job, is looking after unveil the new Land announced that in 2025, they will points in Westlands at the Inchcape cycle of choice. Inchcape Kenya is the Managing Director Inchcape Kenya Limited, Rover defender during Hussein Ibrahim during a partnership signing some of the most luxurious brands a virtual launch. transition into exclusively producing premise. sales and aftersales support provider With premium products that we ceremony for the 2019 Nation Classic Golf in Kenya, featuring breakthrough Photo | Courtesy only full-electric cars. Some of the Turning to the challenges, for this brand. Already, the roads are sell at Inchcape Kenya, customer Series Grand Finale. Photo | Inchcape technologies that are coming into the current JLR models are semi hybrid Hussein cites value perception for awash with the Motorrad F 750 GS automotive space. Both Jaguar Land as the brand prepares to transition. brand new cars in Kenya. He says, and F 850 GS and the big bad boy of service is of utmost importance, to Customers out there are frustrat- Rover and BMW have invested a Asked if Kenya is prepared ‘When customers discuss pricing, them all, the R 1250 GS/A. On the ensure excellent experiences at the ed after buying these brands from lot in Research and Development for this change, Hussein says that they are not comparing like for like. smaller side, Inchcape Kenya also dealership and with their cars”. unknown sources which ends costing (R&D) into electric cars. The Jaguar Inchcape Kenya is already exploring Some of the advantages of buying a stocks the G 310 R and the C 400 X. them more eventually. Buying from i-Pace and BMW i3 are already ways in which they will support the brand-new car is that the car comes Amongst the bikes available on Inchcape Kenya guarantees the cus- causing a stir of anticipation in the customers in the transition, with with a warranty. In this day and age special order is the heritage R 18 tomers top quality cars, with warran- where the technology in some of the and R 18 Classic, with the high- ty and aftersales service at fair prices. cars is quite advanced, the customers grade Option 719 parts which bring At the moment, Hussein is work- should not go back to his/her pocket a unique look to your motorcycle, ing on other unique automotive to pay for required periodic system offering increased customization, offerings that will be beneficial to upgrades and maintenance, which specialised seats, wheels, and cyl- all BMW and Jaguar Land Rover are only available at the official inder head covers to striking paint owners including the ones with pre- dealer’. options, perhaps for a most interest- owned units. ‘The importance of servicing at ing finish. The causes Hussein cares most the dealer is another major, safe- Among the unique offering in about include empowering future ty and ultimate cost advantage. We the automotive segment in Kenya is engineers through education, poverty cannot over-emphasize on the need Lease and Rental, where businesses alleviation, science and technology. to use only genuine parts on your especially hotels and tour companies car, in addition to the availability can lease luxury brands for their You can reach Hussein Ibrahim in the of highly trained technicians at the clients. Organisations can also lease comfort of Jaguar Land Rover and BMW offices at the Oracle Tower in Westlands dealers, who are also up to date with instead of buying vehicles as assets. while you are in Nairobi, Kenya, on their skills and emerging technology. Inchcape Kenya can also source Tel: +254 719 320 520|+254 724 362 Most customers who take shortcuts and supply certified pre-owned 866. jaguar-kenya.com|landroverkenya. in maintaining their vehicles end Jaguar Land Rover and BMW cars. com|bmw.co.ke.

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I do not want NYS to be #20 dragged back into the past and therefore imagining that Matilda P. Sakwa there is going to be another DIRECTOR GENERAL & CEO NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE corruption scandal merely because of the past is a misplaced fallacy I would not atilda Sakwa began her career her fledgling leadership and administrative want to be associated with. in June, 1989 as a District skills to deliver on her targets. Officer. She had just graduated To shore her mettle, Matilda then took with a Bachelor of Arts Degree time off to study and earned her Master’s Min Sociology from the University of Nairobi. Degree in Development Studies from the Teams in the line ministries that are now Matilda recounts that she was only 25 and Institute of Social Studies at The Hague, active in the delivery of the flagship proj- did not have the imposing body frame that The Netherlands in 1999. ects at the National and County levels. her subjects expected of a District Officer As a District officer, she chaired and She was tellingly deployed back to then. It did not help matters that she was participated in various committees whose the field as a District Commissioner in entering a male dominated segment of the membership was largely composed of peo- 2007 when her experience was needed civil service. ple the age of her parents. She participated to calm post-election upheavals ravaging She nonetheless took her responsibili- in developing the District Development the country then, following the disputed ties with gusto and realizing that she was Plan, held public barazas to propagate general elections. During this time, she not physically endowed on account of her government policies and programmes, was involved in peace building and conflict age, she summoned and solely relied on coordinated all government development management, promotion of statehood and activities in the Division and deputized the nationhood, coordinating different govern- District Commissioner from time to time. ment security agencies to guarantee secu- She made far reaching decisions for and on rity of the people and their properties and behalf of the government. dissemination of government policies. After twelve years in field adminis- Her stellar performance as a District tration, and due to her impressive track Commissioner would later see her being record, she was elevated to the position appointed County Commissioner during of Under Secretary, where she headed the the operationalization of counties as both Aids Control Unit in the then Ministry political and administrative units in 2013. of Provincial Administration and Internal She served in this capacity for five years in Security. While there, she coordinated Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet and Machakos the implementation of the Kenya National counties. HIV/AIDs Strategic Plan, developed plans Then came 2018. Two episodes of for mainstreaming HIV/AIDs programmes alleged corruption scandals had hit and in the ministry, conducted gender and HIV/ besmirched the reputation of the National AIDs advocacy, mobilized and planned uti- Youth Service (NYS) in quick succession lization of resources from the World Bank between 2015 and 2018. The Service was funded HIV/AIDs programmes among sinking fast under the weight of public other key undertakings. reproach and disdain. The future of many Matilda was a key player in developing destitute youths enlisted into the NYS was structures for the HIV/AIDS control pro- at stake. The once quiet institution had grammes in the public sector in general and found its name in all imaginable media in the then larger Office of the President in platforms for all the wrong reasons. Particular. Something had to be done to rescue In 2011, she had a brief but fulfilling the NYS and to restore public trust and stint as the Director Social Pillar, Kenya confidence in its operations. The govern- Vision 2030 where she fondly remembers ment went on a treasure hunt to find the spearheading setting up of Project Delivery ideal person for the rescue. When the

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hunting expedition was over and the mer tarnished image. Expenditures have time came to unveil the treasure, it was Ms. been devolved, revenue collection has gone Matilda P. Sakwa. up considerably, there are more part- Since taking over, Matilda has Matilda was appointed NYS acting nerships and collaborations like never overseen enlistment of over Director General in mid-2018. A consum- before, new employees are being recruited, 35,000 deserving youths across the mate career administrator and a team play- servicemen and women allowances are country into the NYS, constructed er, she was (betrayed) by her exceptional released on time, pending bills have been more barracks and classrooms in skills in management and coordination substantially reduced, all commanding NYS schools and field units and of public affairs, public policy formula- officers across the 22 units have been facil- restowed discipline. tion, networking and resource mobilization itated with new vehicles, several capacity horned during her tenure in field admin- building and promotional courses have istration and central government. Matilda been mounted, members of staff have been indeed revealed in one of her interviews motivated through accelerated promotions the workaholic CEO retorts that, ‘that when she appeared on KBC television in and complaints have reduced, through the is wishful thinking. I do not want NYS August, 2018 that the appointing authority establishment of an efficient complaints to be dragged back into the past and had narrowed down to three names before resolution process. therefore imagining that there is going she was picked. She was indisputably a cut Looking back, Matilda opines that to be another corruption scandal merely above the rest of her peers. her journey to the top has been arduous because of the past is a misplaced fal- Even with these skills, however, being and challenging yet fulfilling. She admits lacy I would not want to be associated thrust in the middle of the storm that had that being appointed the Director General with. Instead, what people should be con- engulfed NYS required somebody with a of NYS had never been in her wildest cerned with is whether we are delivering rare mettle. This is where her calm but dreams. Asked how she received the news on our core mandates of Paramilitary tough demeanour with a tinge of strictness of her appointment to lead the NYS, she Training and Service Regimentation, comes in handy. notes that ‘it was a shock to me. At first, I National Service, Vocational Training and Matilda observes that, ‘when I walked said no to the offer because I hardly knew Commercialization. In my opinion, so far into NYS, one of the first things I grappled what I was going into but after thorough so good’. with was traumatized employees. I found a consultations with family members and A lover of knowledge, Matilda has Service replete with apprehension, confu- friends, I decided to take the plunge and globe-trotted to better her skills. She sion and malaise. The senior management duction of framework contracts, reshuffles, In February, 2019 she received mem- at the deepest end of the pool.’ attended a Data Modelling workshop who had survived the turbulence remained workshops and retreats, meetings, capac- bers of the inaugural NYS Council who Reminded that she may be enjoying at the University of East Anglia, Great timid and in shock. All hope had been lost ity building and training sessions to lay had been appointed to shepherd the trans- a lull before another storm at the NYS, Britain, attained a Diploma in Community and nothing seemed to be working’. ground for the envisaged transformation formation to a body corporate. The Council Based Prevention and Management of She hit the ground running. Reading of NYS from a state department to a state confirmed her as the substantive Director HIV/Aids in Israel, participated in a work- from the script she had been given by the corporation. A few months at the apex of General/CEO a few months later, cement- shop on Integrating Good Governance appointing authority and guided by the top NYS and things started looking up. She ing her position as the first female Service in Education Curriculum in Africa at leadership at the then Ministry of Public has managed to convince the staff that the commander in the history of Kenya. She Makerere University, and attend- Service, Gender and Youth Affairs, Matilda NYS will rise from the ashes. The NYS Act, had scored another first. In just under ed a Public Administration and Public focussed on introducing basic reforms in a 2018 was born. two years and despite a cut on the NYS Service Reforms Seminar for Kenya bid to breathe fresh air into the NYS. budget and the disruptions occasioned by officials at Peking University, China. She did a quick research and realised the effects of Covid-19 pandemic, Matilda Locally, she attained a Diploma in Public that the problems with NYS were deep- Looking back, Matilda has distinguished herself as one of the most Administration, a Certificate in Senior ly rooted in ‘lack of procedures, struc- opines that her journey dependable and transformative CEOs in Management and Strategic Leadership tures and systems in the procurement and Kenya today. and Management Program from the Kenya accounts departments. I could not trust to the top has been Since taking over, Matilda has overseen School of Government. anybody because though I knew a majority arduous and challenging enlistment of over 35,000 deserving youths Matilda Sakwa singles out Prof. of staff and stakeholders were good, I was yet fulfilling. She admits across the country into the NYS, construct- , Cabinet Secretary (CS), sure there were bad elements who wanted ed more barracks and classrooms in NYS Ministry of Public Service and Gender to take advantage of the situation and push that being appointed the schools and field units, restowed discipline whom she fondly refers to as ‘Madam CS’ us deeper into the abyss. For a long time, I Director General of NYS and admitted 200 servicemen and women as her greatest mentor. When she dragged lost my sleep’, she says. had never been in her to undertake medical courses for the first her feet and appeared reluctant to take up When Matilda swung into action, that time in the history of NYS. the appointment as NYS Director General, saw transfers, signing of new contracts wildest dreams More importantly, today NYS is a state Prof. Kobia remained her forte. She con- with thoroughly vetted companies, intro- corporation totally redeemed from its for- stantly urges her on.

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s. Fiona Asonga is the Chief Executive Officer at the Technology Service Providers Association of MKenya (TESPOK). TESPOK is a non -profit orga- nization representing the interests #21 of Technology Service providers in Kenya and also runs the Kenya Internet Exchange Point and Fiona Asonga Industry Computer Security and Incidence Response Team (I-CSIRT). CEO TECHNOLOGY SERVICE The Kenya Internet Exchange Point PROVIDERS OF KENYA is the facility which keeps internet traffic in Kenya and ensuring secu- rity of the cyberspace is import- ant to the role TESPOK provides on the collaborative platform. The Industry Computer Security and Incidence Response Team (I-CSIRT) Since taking over, Matilda has brings together cyber-security repre- sentatives of service providers and overseen enlistment of over co-ordinates cyber security issues 35,000 deserving youths across the with relevant government entities country into the NYS, constructed through the National Computer more barracks and classrooms in Security and Incident Response selves busy. E-learning in Kenya and tent a free port at the KIXP for ease NYS schools and field units and Team (KE-CSIRT). all kinds of webinars have quickly of access to educational materials by restowed discipline. In addition, new developments become the norm rather than the learners across the country. like the Global Roaming Exchange exception, thanks to services pro- “TESPOK is the partner behind at the Kenya Internet Exchange vided by TESPOK and its mem- the scenes making sure that com- Point (KIXP), an international rout- ber organizations. These needs have munication continues uninterrupted,” ing hub for the continent’s mobile occasioned an increase in local inter- Asonga adds. “We are ensuring indi- technology, have facilitated the net traffic. viduals can continue to work from entrenchment of mobile into con- The service providers have had home, households can call hotlines sumer and commercial life, not least to contend with the need to upgrade and receive the required assistance. in the area of finance, banking and their connections so as to main- The telecommunications network tax administration. tain the required quality of service owners and the KIXP have adapted A major user is the Kenya parameters for the end users, the the unsung hero’s role that is crucial Revenue Authority’s Integrated Tax CEO states. TESPOK also offered in our country’s efforts to combat the Management System, which is heav- Kenya Institute for Curriculum covid-19 disease outbreak and keep ily dependent on KIXP for avail- Development (KICD) learning con- the economic and social activities live. ability of its services to the public As members of both the and at the various custom points,” European Internet Exchange Point Asonga adds. Association (EIEPA) and Africa A second major use is the neces- Internet Exchange Point Association sity for digital communications such We are ensuring individuals (AIEPA) TESPOK is borrowing as meetings and conferences as well can continue to work from from the experiences of both on and as learning programs arising out of home, households can call off the continent to ensure they stay the closure of learning institutions hotlines and receive the ahead of the industry needs and cus- following the devastating effects of required assistance. tomer expectations. the COVID-19 pandemic. This has During the 2020 Covid-19 pan- seen learners continue to access Ms. Fiona Asonga demic, Ms. Asonga played a pivotal learning material and keep them- role in facilitating online access

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ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business

Internet Society to develop training materi- al for the Collaborative Governance Project that saw her offer training globally and at USTTI on Multistakeholder engagement. Fiona Asonga’s role in Fiona Asonga is part of the team of policy and regulatory consultants currently engaged to assist the matters has had her Ethiopian Communications Authority in acquire certificates in their ICT sector liberalization efforts. Fiona is currently pursuing a Master of Policy Development Business Administration (MBA) - Strategic and Advocacy from Management at USIU-Africa. She holds International Center a Bachelor’s degree in international busi- for Parliamentary ness administration (IBA) also from the USIU-A. Studies, Training and She holds additional post graduate Consulting Associates certificates in Information Communications and Business Technology from Cisco; Cyber security - Advocacy Fund Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams trainings in Kampala, Nairobi and Los Angeles; ICT Assisted Development from London, UK; Telecoms Regulatory C Training from London, UK. M

Fiona Asonga’s role in policy and reg- Y ulatory matters has had her acquire certif- CM icates in Policy Development and Advocacy from International Center for Parliamentary MY Studies, Training and Consulting Associates CY

and Business Advocacy Fund. She also CMY holds a certificate of Competence in the K to as much relevant content as was The focus of the association is not only European Union General Data Protection possible through the KIXP. This involved on protecting the investors in the sector Regulations (GDPR) and Leadership cer- helping the ISPs increase capacity to ensure but also ensuring the consumer can benefit tificates from the Collaborative Boston that they maintain the good reliable online from good quality uninterrupted communi- Institute and ICANN. services to their respective customers. cation regardless of how simple or complex In addition, TESPOK has had to liaise the online activities may be. Fiona other achievements include: with security agents for movement of Fiona Asonga has been in the ICT  2017 Recipient of the Africa Avante Garde teams across the country to provide much industry since 2005 and during this peri- Awards for support of the African domain required support to keep communication od, she has represented Africa from 2011 and the African Union Commission’s efforts up and undertake unplanned infrastructure to 2018 as an elected representative of  2018 As a consultant of the Internet upgrade. This resulting from the unforeseen the Number Resource Organization where Society developed a training program for traffic demand to areas that previously her role involved coordinating Internet Collaborative Governance that has been had low internet traffic throughput such Numbering Resource issues across the five used to improve on stakeholder interaction as residential area and some academic Regional Internet Registries. During the during multi-stakeholder engagements institutions. same period, she also doubled as a member  2018 – 2020 Member of the ICANN TESPOK is leading infrastructure own- of the Internet Corporation of Assigned GNSO Expedited Policy Development ers to work together with the Expressway Names and Numbers (ICANN) Address Process seeking to align the domain name road contractor in ensuring that the critical Supporting Organization- Address Council community to the European GDPR communication services remain up for all where co-ordination of the development In all these, Fiona Asonga has provided sectors of the economy. The Expressway of Global Numbering Resource Policy transformational leadership in the areas touches on critical communication back- Development takes place. of ICT Industry leadership, lobbying and bone that not only serves Kenya but land- She has been a leadership trainer at the advocacy, data management, cyber space locked countries of Uganda, Rwanda and ICANN Leadership Academy from 2015 protection, policy formulation and advo- Southern Sudan. to 2017. In 2018, she was engaged by the cacy. EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IS HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH. NOT FOR SALE TO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS. 88 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 89 ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business

mately doubling to 10.4 percent in the second Commission and Kenya Private School Alliance. quarter of 2020 as measured by the Kenya This collaboration extends to the Kenya Institute National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Quarterly of Curriculum Development to enable all students Labor Force Survey. in the country access digital learning content #22 “With these statistics, it became apparent online through Kenya Education Cloud. that Microsoft’s intervention and contribution In addition, Microsoft is working with the was required to help individuals and organiza- Kenya Education Network (KENET) and sev- Kendi Ntwiga tions bounce back to contributing to the recovery eral private and public Universities to provide of the country’s economy,” says Kendi. anytime everywhere access to secure productivity COUNTRY LEADER-KENYA MICROSOFT To do this, Microsoft launched the glob- and collaboration tools as well as the ability to al skilling initiative by partnering with the cost effectively leverage efficient and reliable Stanbic Bank Foundation in Kenya—signing infrastructure from anywhere in the country. a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with This has greatly boosted the accelerated trans- the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade, and formation of our higher education programmes s we ushered in what unknowingly Enterprise Development to enhance the employ- to ensure continuity of learning and improved was going to be one of the most ability of citizens through digital upskilling to learning experiences where face to face environ- unpredictable years globally, Kendi over 50,000 entrepreneurs. This was part of ment is interrupted. Ntwiga joined Microsoft as its Kenya the Microsoft Global Skills Initiative aimed at ACountry Leader in January 2020. A role she bringing more digital skills to 25 million people soon realized would be critical in enabling worldwide. The initiative brings together every remote productivity for various players of the part of Microsoft, combining existing and new Kendi who is the local economy and indeed the ordinary citizens of resources from LinkedIn, GitHub, and Microsoft, custodian of Microsoft’s mission Kenya. all grounded in three areas of activity: Under her leadership, Microsoft moved  The use of data to identify in-demand jobs of empowering every person quickly to support key players and drive soci- and the skills needed to fill them; and every organization in etal support. Some of the engagements includ-  Free access to learning paths and content to the planet to achieve more— ed working with the Ministry of Information help people develop the skills these positions Communication and Technology (ICT) to require; and together with the education build a health mobile application Chat robot  Low-cost certifications and free job-seeking team, brought this mission to (BOT) that would be used for citizen engage- tools to help people who develop these skills life in Kenya through Enabling ment. This BOT which was built and hosted pursue new jobs. on Microsoft Technology, integrated into the Currently and in addition to these inter- Remote Learning National Covid-19 communication plan with ventions, Microsoft is working in Kenya with key digital Government connection channels the likes of Tech4Dev and the Women Techsters and was accessible via all social media plat- Initiative to train 5 million girls and women forms and the mobile phone messaging. across Africa in coding and deep tech skills by Microsoft is working closely with the Microsoft also deployed digital justice, 2030. Academic studies departments to provide for free where the organization provided Management Kendi who is the local custodian of Microsoft Learn (supports remote classroom) Solution (MS) Teams to the Judiciary to facil- Microsoft’s mission of empowering every person platform available to all institutions of higher itate Online Trials/Hearings/Meetings. The and every organization in the planet to achieve learning as part of Microsoft’s contribution to Court management solution modernized jus- more—together with the education team, brought ensure all the students are 21st Century ready tice systems, moving courts away from legacy this mission to life in Kenya through Enabling at the completion of their academic studies. IT and paper-based procedures for criminal, Remote Learning. “Our support for both the pub- Microsoft’s goal is to continuously empower a civil, and traffic cases. lic and private education sector has been pegged minimum of 1 million higher education students According to a survey done and reported on fostering use of modern tools in the classroom, each year. by the World Bank (WB) (Kenya Economic developing 21st century digital content and pro- From an early age, Kendi knew that she had Update by the World Bank) the special focus viding capacity building for teachers to enable an interest in pursuing a career in tech, influ- topic found that the pandemic increased pov- hybrid learning,” Kendi adds. enced by watching her father pursue computer erty by 4 percentage points (or an additional To this effect, Microsoft has equipped over science in her preteen years. She took an interest 2 million poor) through serious impacts on 200,000 teachers in Kenya with MS Office in sciences and mathematics which helped her get livelihoods, by sharp decreases in incomes 365 tools to support hybrid learning and col- accepted into computer studies and later pursue and general loss of employment. The unem- laboration through MS Teams in partnership a degree in international business management ployment rate increased sharply, approxi- with the Ministry of Education, Teachers Service as well as get entry into post graduate studies

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ANNIVESARY EDITION Top 25 Most Transformative Leaders Impacting Business A TRUSTED BRAND

Having grown up in the village, Kendi is passionate AIR AND GROUND about creating systems Maisha that allow those with a AMBULANCE PLAN background like hers Maisha, the flagship medical evacuation product access opportunities they from AMREF Flying Doctors, is the region’s first and wouldn’t otherwise have. only professional direct air and ground ambulance subscription. Maisha (meaning, life, in Kiswahili language) offers different levels of cover - targeting individuals, families, high tech global multinationals. small groups and corporates - determined by the area Kendi has worked for 3 other American of coverage. Global High-Tech multinationals and is known to consistently build the ecosystem BENEFITS INCLUDE: and leverage partners to grow and turn- around businesses she has been given the WHO WE ARE Access to our 24hr Medical Helpline anytime from opportunity to oversee. anywhere for medical advice. AMREF Flying Doctors is the only provider of Air and Having grown up in the village, Kendi Ground ambulance services in Eastern Africa: Unlimited evacuation flights per year for medical is passionate about creating systems that emergencies. allow those with a background like hers • with over 60 years of experience Unlimited ground ambulance transfers within access opportunities they wouldn’t other- • that is internationally accredited and has twice won Kenya. wise have. She sits on boards of organi- the prestigious ITIJ Air Ambulance Provider of the Year zations that are about grassroots empow- Award Direct contact with AMREF Flying Doctors and the erment and is actively involved in men- medical professionals - no third party. torships and coaching especially around • operates a fleet of fully owned and dedicated aircraft access to Science Technology, Engineering with a 24/7 Operations & Emergency Control Centre LEVEL REGION(S) COVERED RATES KES and Mathematics (STEM) courses and • evacuating close to 1000 patients every year careers. Maisha Bronze Kenya 2,500 Kendi Ntwiga strongly believes that, (Air and Ground Evacuation) ‘we must train and encourage our youth to OUR SERVICES Maisha Silver Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar 4,900 be creators and not just consumers if we as • AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES from remote airstrips, as well as international patient repatriation to Europe, Africans, are to build self-sufficiency’. Maisha Gold Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, 5,500 Separately but related, Kendi is the Asia, the Middle East, the Far East, and beyond. Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi founder of She-Goes-Tech, an initiative she using Advanced Life Support Maisha Platinum Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, 11,000 set up to help build the pipeline of girls • GROUND TRANSPORT ground ambulances to transport patients between Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, in entrepreneurial leadership from the space would provide her with an oppor- and women getting into STEM courses and hospitals or from the hospital to the airport. South Sudan & Ethiopia Babson College (US). tunity to use her IT knowledge in adding careers. Kendi’s first paid job was handing out value to business. Away from technology and business, • EMERGENCY LIFE SUPPORT SKILLS TRAINING marketing promotional fliers in the city, far It is with this desire in mind that she Kendi is a story telling coach, who expends COURSES offered by highly specialized medical from what she had studied but then critical moved to Paynet group which is now part considerable time and energy working with personnel. for her sustenance. of Interswitch as an Account manager and a variety of individuals and organizations Kendi Ntwiga’s corporate break came was instrumental is driving conversations across the globe, training on story telling as • MEDICAL ESCORT provided by experienced doctors when she got appointed as the assistant IT about channel banking which was the a tool for advocacy. In this capacity, she has and nurses to accompany patients on commercial OVER OVER Manager at the Kahama Group of Hotels, a boon of ATM’s and POS terminals then. been in various forums including the UN airlines worldwide. job she did for only a year. She soon real- While going about her work at Paynet, her General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, 280 600 ized that her passion was spending time in competitor recommended her for a role at New York (US) representing the African • MEDICAL STANDBY services using ground ambulance, COVID-19 PATIENT PERSONNEL TRAINED ON strategy and business discussions, as this HP, which is where she started her career in Woman on pertinent society issues. helicopter or fixed wing aircraft for special events. TRANSFERS SINCE MAY 2020 COVID-19 PREPAREDNESS

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with like-minded global and local partners to provide funding, profes- sional and business skills training. #23 Founded in 2015, MumsVillage (now part of the Bliss Group led out of Nigeria) is a digital media and Isis Nyong’o Madison ecommerce platform that provides mothers with access to information PRINCIPAL AT ASPHALT & INK and products. Prior to this, the renowned tech- nology and media leader held notable ow, more than ever, female career pro- leadership positions on the founding fessionals and entrepreneurs are rising Africa teams at Google, InMobi and to leadership positions across Africa. MTV. Championing this shift are established Through her partnership role businessN leaders like Isis Nyong’o Madison. As at Google, she was instrumental in a Principal at Asphalt & Ink, Isis advises global building the foundation of the dig- and local clients including corporations, investors ital economy in Africa focusing on and foundations on their Africa strategies. The structuring private sector partner- demand for this type of highly localized expertise ships that increased user access to is growing as trade and investment into and with- and interest in the Internet while also in the continent accelerates. advocating for public policy change. As a serial entrepreneur, Isis has leveraged The widespread use of products such her deep operating experience to start two com- as Youtube and Google Maps across panies that leverage technology to address press- Africa today are a testament to the ing problems for African women. Founded in impact of her work. As a serial entrepreneur, Isis has leveraged 2017, WomenWork is a digital network of ambi- In her general management role her deep operating experience to start two tious women focused on reaching their potential at InMobi she pioneered mobile through a unique mix of programming the plat- advertising in South Africa, Nigeria companies that leverage technology to address form provides. WomenWork not only provides a and Kenya. And in her commercial pressing problems for African women platform for networking, but also collaborates role at MTV, she was instrumental in formulating long term sponsor- ship with advertisers and content 40 women under 40 in Kenya that ensures women are included. distribution deals with TV networks named one of Africa’s most success- Various research studies indicate which enabled African youth to gain ful women by Forbes as well as a that it will take more than 100 years exposure to music and youth culture Young Global Leader by the World to reach gender equality. Isis believes from other parts of the continent Economic Forum. that in addition to relevant policy before the Internet was as accessible Her formative years found her at changes, two critical areas to achieve as it is today. the Greenhills School, one of a kind. gender equality where she can influ- With 10 years of board expe- As espoused in LinkedIn, ‘Greenhills ence include increasing access to rience across academia, private School is a student-centered commu- technology for women and putting and publicly traded companies, Isis nity that helps young people realize capital in the hands of women. currently serves on the boards of their full intellectual, ethical, artistic Isis’ personal mantras change Southbridge Group (Pan-African and athletic potential in preparation but what drives her is the belief that investment bank), Nairobi Securities for college-and beyond-as curious, life is a learning process and if you Exchange (NSE) where she chairs the creative, and responsible citizens remind yourself of that frequently, Listings Committee, and Nourishing who respect all individuals and their it’s easier to take on new challenges Africa ((digital platform for 1 million differences, and whose meaningful and advance new ideas. Her first agri-food entrepreneurs). and balanced lives will better the name invites a wide range of ques- Isis is an alumnus of Harvard world’. tions on it’s origin and pronunciation Business School (MBA) and Stanford Isis is a Pan-Africanist at heart, - she was named after the Egyptian University (AB in Human Biology) committed to the economic advance- goddess Isis which is pronounced and has been featured in the Top ment of the continent in a manner “eye-sis’.

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enya Healthcare Federation Private sectors, and is a member of Among the global special projects (KHF) is a Private Sector the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya Dr Nyalita has undertaken is lead- membership-based organiza- and Institute of Directors—Kenya, ing and managing Bayer Healthcare’s tion that serves as the Health Immediate Past President of the Kenya organizational set-up and build-up in SectorK Board of the Kenya Private Association of the Pharmaceutical Myanmar at a time when the country Sector Alliance (KEPSA). Founded Industry (KAPI), served as a Council was re-opening up to foreign invest- in 2004, the Federation has a mem- Member of the International Federation ment opportunities. Though not a #24 bership of over 160 organizations of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and ride in the park, was a very fulfilling and growing, that can be divided in Associations (IFPMA) and presently, assignment. Health Institutions (NGOs, Social and a member of Kenya Private Sector These experiences and capabilities Dr. Anastasia Commercial Enterprises), Professional Alliance, KEPSA, Governing Council. have thrust Dr Nyalita at the forefront Associations and Institutional She is passionate about Leadership as a leading Thought Leader in the Nyalita Associations, all active in the Kenyan and Governance, assets that Dr. Nyalita handling of the current COVID-19 Health Sector. The membership of is currently putting to good use at the Pandemic Response initiatives. She KHF come from all the 6 building forefront of managing and influencing says, ‘the Covid-19 Pandemic pres- CEO, KENYA HEALTHCARE blocks of health systems as specified policies and decisions at the highest ents huge challenges and opportu- FEDERATION (KHF) by the WHO: Service Delivery, Health level of the Covid-19 pandemic man- nities, including an opportunity to Workforce, Information, Supply Chain, agement in Kenya today. further strengthen our Public Private Health Financing and Governance. Dr Anastasia Nyalita is the ‘must Dialogue in Health and forge stronger KHF’s goal is to have an enabling include’ member of any Think Tank, partnerships beyond Health Sector,’. environment that supports quality Committee, Taskforce or Council where Dr. Nyalita, when not engaging affordable healthcare for all Kenyans. decisions are made regarding all mat- with various stakeholders, in addition The Federation strives to achieve ters Health, if the objective is to get to giving thoughtful opinion on vari- this by championing Public Private results effectively and efficiently. Her ous discourse on handling the Covid- Partnerships (PPPs) for better health- vision is: A Transformational Health 19 pandemic and effective distribution care by networking, engaging, repre- agenda that transcends boundaries of the vaccines, finds time for deep senting and through win – win negoti- and generations. involvement in mentoring young pro- ations with the National Government fessionals in their last years of univer- of Kenya. Overseeing all these as the sity or early on in their careers after CEO, is Dr. Anastasia Nyalita. graduating from the University. Anastasia Nyalita is a dynamic She quotes Coach George Raveling and competent health specialist, a as a personal mantras and values that Pharmacist and an MBA graduate she cherishes, “If it’s got to be, it’s up to to boot, with an unquenchable pas- me.” This explains Dr. Nyalita’s active sion for sharing her skills and knowl- participation and engagement on mat- edge through erudite communication The Covid-19 ters Health, to help secure the country via various engagement platforms. In Pandemic presents and mitigate the devastating effects deliberately doing this, Dr. Nyalita of the Covid-19 Pandemic. She is not contributes to the growth and strate- huge challenges and one to remain silent when issues are gic direction of organizations in the opportunities, including being discussed. And while at it, Dr. healthcare sector and her involvement an opportunity to Nyalita is a confident communicator cuts across the entire spectrum of with excellent interpersonal skills and health sector. further strengthen our the ability to manage relationships Dr. Nyalita has held various senior Public Private Dialogue across levels. leadership roles in several internation- in Health and forge She has been bestowed with the Eli al health and FMCG organizations Lilly & Co Global Regulatory Affairs over the last 20 years, spanning across stronger partnerships Award, for displaying the leadership sub–Saharan Africa and South East beyond Health Sector.’’ behaviour ‘Create External Focus’ Asian countries. She had has served and the brand attribute ‘Networking in several Boards in both Public and (Medical) Expertise’.

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Her appointment meant that ultimately, economy and are fundamental part of the sup- she would have to shift base, leaving Nairobi to ply chain of large businesses. You are only as #25 start a new phase of an illustrious career in New strong as your weakest link. A company cannot York, New York, US. The Covid-19 Pandemic be responsible if its supply chain is not sustain- Sanda Ojiambo meant that she had to get things going while able,” says Sanda. grounded in Nairobi. While large businesses are good because of CEO/ED UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT Sanda sees the process of making that tran- the agenda-setting role they play on a national sition during this difficult time as one of the or global scale, drive innovation and help in biggest personal and professional challenges positioning, it is important to remember that she has had to take on in her life. That, in her they are supported by SMEs. anda Ojiambo would describe herself as view, has replaced the hard climb up Mount Looking forward to the future, Sanda sees a business leader with a unique blend Kilimanjaro that she had previously placed top the role of purpose and principle led business as of sustainable business and sustainable of the list of toughest challenges she has had one that more businesses can and should adopt, development expertise, brought to life to tackle. so that they continue to deliver both profits Sthough experience garnered in the NGO sector, She had to tap deep into her mental strength, as well as benefits for societal transformation, the private sector and the United Nations. She her deep sense of determination and optimism using the business lens and the platforms of the is the CEO and Executive Director of the United to make a smooth and successful transition. UN Global Compact. Nations Global Compact, a special initiative of And when the Covid-19 Pandemic fog had lifted the UN, which was founded in 2000 by the then a little and restrictions on international travel Secretary General, Kofi Annan. lifted in September 2020, she got on the first Looking forward to the The United Nations Global Compact is the available flight to NY, US. future, Sanda sees the role world’s largest corporate sustainability initia- Sanda reminisced in a recent LinkedIn post, of purpose and principle led tive aimed at mobilizing business around the “The trip from Nairobi to New York remains responsible business practice and principles, extremely vivid,” she says. “There was a distinct business as one that more and contributions towards the UN Sustainable sense of trepidation among the small group of businesses can and should Development Goals (SDGs). Sanda took up the travelers, and very little could have prepared adopt, so that they continue role as CEO and Executive Director just over a me for the full realities of life with the Covid-19 year ago; and amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Pandemic restrictions that were in place in New to deliver both profits as The announcement of the role, which came York City.” well as benefits for societal through the office of the Secretary General of the Sanda further elaborated on the importance transformation, using United Nations, necessitated Sanda’s exit from of maintaining a healthy work-life balance Safaricom Plc, where she had worked for twelve when working from home as being key to per- the business lens and the years, leading the company’s much lauded sonal and professional equilibrium, growth and platforms of the UN Global efforts in Sustainable Business, Technology for successes during these unique times. Compact Development and Corporate Social Investment. Although she landed successfully in her With a Master’s degree in Public Policy, new home, an apartment, she still could not go Sanda’s first job with the UN in the very early to her new office, and so had to set up an office Sanda’s Masters of Science (MSc) degree stages of her career was with UNDP-Somalia, at home. With a seat at the window, she has in Public Policy and Development Economics, part of a four-year stint in Somalia which watched as the New York seasons changed from from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities shaped Sanda’s views on development, develop- fall to winter and then to spring. (US) has been complemented by various execu- ment policy and sustainability. It was the start One of Sanda’s first achievements in office tive education courses between 2012 and 2016 of her career, but she knew then that she would was to establish a new, forward looking strategy that she took at the prestigious Strathmore go back to the UN at some point. for the Global Compact, charting forward a new Business School (SBS) and a Women in And so, amidst the work from home environ- trajectory towards heighted accountability mea- Leadership Forum from the Harvard Business ment, Sanda took on the new role in early June, sures for companies, global growth, prioritized School Executive Education in 2015. 2020 working from Nairobi while using tech- areas for action, and a new strategy to engage Her foundation in Education was laid at nology to temporarily bridge the gap between Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which McGill University between 1992 and 1995 her team in New York and other colleagues are a significant cog in the global economy. The where Sanda graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in duty stations. The new role posed extreme strategy has been well received globally and (BA) degree in Economics and International demands for time and across time zones with with several stakeholders, setting the tone for Development. Like most of the leaders being the boom in webinars and video conferencing the new chapter for the Global Compact under honoured here, Sanda Ojiambo attended the because the Covid-19 Pandemic had arrived Sanda’s leadership. St. Mary’s School, Nairobi for her International and people were actively convening online. “SMEs drive 70 per cent of the world’s Baccalaureate between 1990 and 1991.

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lent in networking both locally and internationally, with a Advisor for the Banking Students passion, a positive attitude and good interpersonal skills Association, the Marketing Students Mary W. that constitute her unique Mary Kimonye style. Association and the Students in Free As Principal Secretary for Public Service, Mary is driv- Enterprise (SIFE). The latter is an Kimonye, en on a daily basis to apply her extensive knowledge, skills International Students Body supported by and experience to bring positive and meaningful change the Walmart Company, USA. As a Faculty to the socio-economic development of individuals, institu- advisor I travelled to USA and France with MBS tions, communities and the country and contribute to the my students for the SIFE global forums on achievement of Kenya’s Development Agenda as expressed numerous occasions. To say I was passion- PRINCIPAL SECRETARY STATE DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC SERVICE in Vision 2030, crystalized into The Big Four Agenda and ate about my job at the University is an other regional and international development frameworks understatement. to which Kenya is a signatory. In 2006, I joined the then Public Mary talks of her journey, with an unparalled passion, Sector Reforms Secretariat as a Technical ‘I started my professional life in the Banking Sector in Advisor. This was at the time when the 1986 after completing my Bachelor’s Degree at University country was embracing Results Based of Nairobi (UoN), School of Business. However, I soon Management in the Public Service. It was realized banking was not for me, I felt underutilized and 8 most gratifying to be part of the team that months into the banking job I quit to pursue a Master’s implemented transformative management degree in Business Administration (MBA). approaches among them Performance After graduating, I joined the UoN School of Contracting, RRI and Strategic Planning Business (SoB) as a Lecturer in 1991. The teach- in Government. It is my involvement at ing job is one of the most gratifying jobs in the the Secretariat that led me to my next world. The wonder of imparting knowledge and major assignment – “Branding Kenya”. transforming lives is truly amazing. Besides, the constant interaction with young minds does not only keep you agile, it teaches you to give people latitude to express themselves in their different In February, 2020, HE the President ways for indeed human beings are different. It also appointed me into my current teaches you to be sensitive and alert to the varied position as Principal Secretary for paces of learning in individual students, because, it’s your responsibility as the teacher not to leave anyone State Department of Public Service. behind. The highlights of my career as a Lecturer are This is another extremely gratifying the many times, I encountered students who were willing job. For me, any job aimed at to be “taught”. serving the citizen is a blessing.’’ Needless to say, teaching at the University was extreme- ly satisfying for me, I enjoyed it, I thrived in it. It is an experience that is priceless! It is while here that I perfect- In 2009, I became the founding CEO ed my consultancy and human relations skills. The long of the Brand Kenya Board. The Board f you are looking for a career public service hours of study as you prepare the lecture notes leaves one was set up to develop and implement honcho, who understands government, its systems and saturated with so much knowledge that the lecture room programmes aimed at enhancing Kenya’s processes, yet effective, efficient and loyal to the coun- alone is not an adequate outlet or avenue for knowledge visibility and influence in the Continental try, look no further than Mary Wanjira Kimonye (Mrs). dissemination. I craved a bigger stage. So, teaching outside and International Stage by managing and IOthers who know her very well describe her as a com- of the University, public speaking, volunteering and writing improving Kenya’s image and identity. mitted public servant and management strategist, scholar articles became part of my life. Brand Kenya remains a great success and and trainer with close to thirty years of experience of ser- In 1994, I registered my consultancy firm and went on we managed to develop a National Brand vice in both public and private institutions. to become a renowned researcher, trainer and consultant Master Plan with propositions for all To those who have worked with her, Mary possesses in marketing, branding and corporate strategies. Among the facets of Kenya’s image and identity. special competencies that include country marketing and the companies I worked for were Caltex Oil, Uchumi These include: branding, strategy development, public policy, project man- Supermarket, ADB, Britam, PostBank, and National The Citizens agement, training and capacity building and organizational Council of Women of Kenya. The towns, cities and counties development (OD). Specifically, she is reputed to be excel- While at the School of Business, I was also Faculty proposition

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Resource Information System and best out of them is an art that lead- peace within yourself, you cannot expansion of the Huduma Kenya ers must learn and cultivate – rules, create a peaceful environment for Programme. policies and regulations are not ade- others. Without hard work, you can- Mary postulates, ‘In terms of the quate tools to help people experience not demand hard work from others, “Public Servant” entrenching “com- their full potential. People working without focus you cannot demand prehensive” professionalism is some- in a team need to be appreciated, the same from others and so goes for thing that keeps me awake at night. encouraged, supported, counseled other values in life. By this I mean that Public Servants and defended. However, this does As a leader you set the pace, must have an understanding that not mean complicity or tolerance tone, style and vision for your team. how they act outside of the office of poor performance or indiscipline. Some special assignments Mary is as important as how they act in It means finding a balance between has undertaken include chairing the the office. Public Servants serve reward and punishment and remain- Selection Panel that recruited the a critical mass referred to in the ing firm, fair and objective. Controller of Budget (2019) and Constitution as “we the people”. We  Anything that you cannot find the Chairperson of the Salaries and cannot be Citizen Centric Service if within yourself, you must be pre- Remuneration Commission (2018). we do not have clarity on “who the pared to live without. Without In 2015, during the US President people are”, their aspirations, fears, joys and their living conditions”. This is in recognition of the central- ity of public service in the political, economic and social economic devel- opment of the Nation. Without a Export proposition Campaign and the youth focused says Mary. stable, non-partisan Public Service, Tourism proposition campaign. “Zinduka run in partner- In her role as PS, Mary’s specif- development is not possible. So, Diaspora proposition ship with Citizen T.V. ic responsibilities include rendering entrenching the principles and val- Trade and Investment propo In February, 2020, HE the informed and impartial advice to ues of Public Service and observ- sition and President appointed me into my cur- the CS consistent with the func- ing the Constitutional provisions in The regional cooperation rent position as Principal Secretary tions and responsibilities of the CS. Chapter 6 and Chapter 13 remains propositions for State Department of Public As an Accounting Officer, Mary an integral part of my work day. I Under these propositions, the Service. This is another extremely ensures that the resources of the hope to entrench Public Service that Brand Kenya implemented sever- gratifying job. For me, any job aimed state department are utilized in a every Kenyan can be proud of’. al high impact initiatives aimed at serving the citizen is a blessing. way that is lawful and authorized, Mary lists key lessons that she at enhancing the inward flow of As Principal Secretary for Public effective, efficient, economical and has learnt over the years that have trade, tourism, multi-national cor- Service, I also oversee the operations transparent. helped in her growth in private and Barack Obama visit to Kenya, she porate (MNCs) headquarters that of the Huduma Kenya Programme, Mary adds, ‘Looking into the professional life as: Academic chaired the Communication and we see today, foreign direct invest- the National Youth Service and future, my role is to lead thought  Academic qualifications are sim- qualifications are Branding Sub Committee. ments (FDI), global conferences and the Public Service Performance processes in the refocusing of the ply that and they are possessed by simply that and The Sacred Heart Girls High, increased diaspora transfers in for- Management and Monitoring Unit’, Public Service for continued perfor- many people and therefore they are Kyeni and Nyandarua High Schools eign exchange. mance with the current challenges of not a differentiator. To succeed, they are possessed alumnae holds a BCom and an Some of the most successful mar- COVID-19 Pandemic, rapid changes one must cultivate other skills and by many people and MBA degree from the UoN. She In 2009, I became the keting projects that I spearheaded in technology and the increasing competencies that will enable them therefore they are is a Marketing Society of Kenya were: - founding CEO of the Brand numbers of youthful workers enter- navigate real life human interactions. (MSK) Warrior and a Fellow of the The first ever Investment Conference Kenya Board. The Board ing the Service. I wish to see a  Humility, hard work, sensitiv- not a differentiator. Kenya Institute of Management. In in the United States and several oth- was set up to develop and Public Service that is fit for purpose ity to others and a positive attitude To succeed, one 2010, she was conferred with the ers in Germany, Netherlands, Italy, implement programmes -well prepared to serve the needs of have never killed anyone. Indeed, must cultivate honour of the Moran of The Order England, Scotland and Belgium, aimed at enhancing Kenya’s an increasing youthful nation and her guiding mantra is to “Always other skills and of The Burning Spear (MBS) by the Uganda, Burundi and South Africa. visibility and influence in the with the agility to respond to the walk on the sunny side of the street President of Kenya, for distinguished The Kenya House Project during Continental and International highly dynamic globalized world. expecting and anticipating both suc- competencies that service to her country and building the London 2012 Olympics. In this regard, the Public Service cesses and failure, facing them with will enable them the image of Kenya. Several National Campaigns to Stage by managing and Department is focusing on the digi- hope and gratitude because in either Mary Kimonye is a two-time entrench pride and patriotism in the improving Kenya’s image and tization and automation of services, of them lies great lessons in life”. navigate real life winner of the Trainer of the Year Citizens, the most notable being the identity. succession management, modern-  People are the greatest resource human interactions Award, whose hobbies include gar- Mimi Ni Kenya and Kenya ni Mimi ization of the Government Human at our disposal, however getting the dening and exotic cooking.

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data, we have currently interviewed over was what we called “the career and care 100 people in this age cohort, and have crunch.” collected survey data from more than 600 This refers to the collision of work- additional people. place demands and demands of caring for We went into this large-scale project others that takes place in your 30s and expecting to find that established adults early 40s. Trying to climb a ladder in a were happy but struggling. We thought chosen career while also being increasingly people’s experiences of their 30s and early there would be rewards during this period expected to care for kids, tend to the needs At what age are people usually happiest? 40s, and my research has led me to believe of life – perhaps being settled in career, of partners and perhaps care for aging that this stage of life – while full of chal- family and friendships, or peaking phys- parents can create a lot of stress and work. lenges – is much more rewarding than ically and cognitively – but also some Yet when we started to look at our New research offers surprising clues most might think. significant challenges. data, what we found surprised us. The main challenge we anticipated Yes, people were feeling overwhelmed Trying to climb a ladder in a chosen career while also being increasingly The career and care crunch and talked about having too much to do in expected to care for kids, tend to the needs of partners and perhaps care for When I was a researcher in my late 30s, I too little time. But they also talked about aging parents can create a lot of stress and work. wanted to read more about the age period Most established adults feeling profoundly satisfied. All of these I was in. That was when I realized that things that were bringing them stress were no one was doing research on people in we interviewed seemed to also bringing them joy. Or would you choose your early 20s, when their 30s and early 40s, which puzzled me. recognize that they were For example, Yuying, 44, said “even CLARE MEHTA time feels endless and the world is your oyster – So much often happens during this time: happier in their 30s than though there are complicated points of Associate Professor of Psychology, Emmanuel College with friends, travel, pubs and clubs beckoning? Buying homes, getting married or get- this time period, I feel very solidly happy Western culture idealizes youth, so it may ting divorced; building careers, changing they were in their 20s, and in this space right now.” Nina, 39, simply come as a surprise to learn that in a recent poll careers, having children or choosing not to this impacted how they described herself as being “wildly happy.” f you could be one age for the rest of your life, asking this question, the most popular answer have children. thought about some of (The names used in this piece are pseud- what would it be? wasn’t 9 or 23, but 36. To study something, it helps to name it. onyms, as required by research protocol.) Would you choose to be nine years old, Our mission is to share knowledge and inform So, my colleagues and I named the period the signs of physical aging When we took an even closer look at absolved of life’s most tedious responsibilities, decisions. Yet as a developmental psychologist, I from ages 30 to 45 “established adult- that they were starting to our data, it started to become clear why andI instead able to spend your days playing with thought that response made a lot of sense. hood,” and then set out to try to under- encounter people might wish to remain age 36 over friends and practicing your times tables? For the last four years, I’ve been studying stand it better. While we are still collecting any other age. People talked about

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being in the prime of their lives and feeling at their peak. After years of working to develop careers and Occidental Insurance Company Limited relationships, people reported feeling as though they had finally arrived. Mark, 36, shared that, at least for him, “things feel more in place.” “I’ve put together a machine that’s finally got all the parts it needs,” he said.

A sigh of relief after the tumultuous 20s As well as feeling as though they had accumulated the careers, rela- ABOUT US PRODUCTS WE OFFER tionships and general life skills they had been working toward since their Occidental Insurance Company Limited was incorporated 1. Motor Private Policy 20s, people also said they had great- er self-confidence and understood since 1987. 2. Motor Commercial Policy themselves better. Fire and Related Perils Policy Jodie, 36, appreciated the wis- 3. dom she had gained as she reflected from 11 Million in 1987 to over 2.8 Billion as at 4. Domestic Package Policy on life beyond her 20s: “Now you’ve December 2020 and its asset base to over 4 Billion. Personal Accident Policy got a solid decade of life experience. 5. And what you discover about your- 6. Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA) self in your 20s isn’t necessarily that what you wanted was wrong. It’s just amongst others. 7. Marine Insurance Policy you have the opportunity to figure 8. Burglary Insurance Policy Travel Insurance out what you don’t want and what’s Including Covid-19' not going to work for you. Not ideal for everyone of life that we should pay more 9 . Engineering Insurance Policies So, you go into your 30s, and Our research should be viewed attention to. curtailment, Emergency assistance and Covid-19. 10. Travel Insurance Policy you don’t waste a bunch of time with some caveats. The interviews And this is slowly happening. going on half dozen dates with some- were primarily conducted with People think Along with my own work is an body that’s probably not really going middle-class North Americans, and of their 30s – excellent book recently written by to work out, because you’ve dated many of the participants are white. and not their Kayleen Shaefer, “But You’re Still So WHAT GUIDES US before and you have that confidence For those who are working class, or 20s or their Young,” that explores people nav- and that self-assuredness to be like, for those who have had to reckon teens – as igating their 30s. In her book she Vision ‘hey, thanks but no thanks.’ Your with decades of systemic racism, the sweet tells stories of changing career paths, To be the most reliable protector of wealth and health in the East African Region. friend circle becomes a lot closer established adulthood may not be spot in their navigating relationships and dealing because you weed out the people so rosy. with fertility. Mission that you just don’t need in your life It is also worth noting that the lives to which My colleagues and I hope that that bring drama.” career and care crunch has been they’d like our work and Shaefer’s book are Most established adults we inter- exacerbated, especially for women, to return just the beginning. Having a bet- Our Core Values viewed seemed to recognize that they by the Covid-19 pandemic. For this ter understanding of the challenges suggests Customer Focus were happier in their 30s than they reason, the pandemic may be lead- and rewards of established adult- that this Innovation Our Contacts were in their 20s, and this impact- ing to a decrease in life satisfaction, is a period hood will give society more tools to nt acts: ed how they thought about some especially for established adults who of life that support people during that period, Head Office of the signs of physical aging that are parents trying to navigate full- we should ensuring that this golden age pro- Co they were starting to encounter. For time careers and full-time child care. vides not only memories that we will Crescent Business Center 7th & 5th Floor example, Lisa, 37, said, “If I could go At the same time, that people pay more fondly look back upon, but also a Integrity Parklands Road, Parklands. Empowerment back physically but I had to also go think of their 30s – and not their attention to. solid foundation for the rest of our P.O. Box 39459 - 00623 Nairobi, Kenya Parklands Road - Parklands back emotionally and mentally, no 20s or their teens – as the sweet spot lives. Tel: 0709 896 000 P.O. Box 39459 - 00623 Nairobi, Kenya way. I would take flabby skin lines in their lives to which they’d like to ‘Established adulthood’ is an Email: [email protected] Tel:W 0709ebsite: 896 www000 .occidental-ins.com every day.” return suggests that this is a period emerging area of study. [email protected]

106 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESSWebsit e:MONTHLY www.occiden | JULY-AUGUSTtal-ins.com 2021 107 Occidental Insurance Company Limited is Regulated by Insurance Regulatory Authority of Kenya SOCIETY News Feature

Although 52% is the highest percent- together resulted in greater emotional alarming than you might think. And it’s actually age in over a century, this number has, in closeness and companionship with their Yes, more and more quite a bit more interesting than the sound bite fact, been rising steadily since hitting a low emerging adults. On the other hand, 40% summary. of 29% in 1960. The main reason for the of the parents agreed that having their young adults are living For 30 years I’ve been studying 18-to-29- rise is that more and more young people emerging adults at home meant worrying year-olds, an age group I call “emerging adults” to continued their education into their 20s about them more, and about 25% said it describe their in-between status as no longer ado- as the economy shifted from manufactur- resulted in more conflict and more disrup- with their parents – but lescents, but not fully adult. ing to information and technology. When tion to their daily lives. Even 30 years ago, adulthood – typically they’re enrolled in school, most don’t As much as most parents enjoy having is that necessarily bad? marked by a stable job, a long-term partnership make enough money to live independently. their emerging adults around, they tend to and financial independence – was coming later than Before 1900 in the United States, it be ready to move on to the next stage of In most of the world today, it is still typical for emerging it had in the past. was typical for young people to live at their lives when their youngest kid reaches adults to stay home until at least their late 20s. In Yes, a lot of emerging adults are now living with home until they married in their mid-20s, their 20s. They have plans they’ve been their parents. But this is part of a larger, longer and there was nothing shameful about it. delaying for a long time – to travel, to take countries where collectivism is more highly valued than trend, with the percentage going up only modestly They usually started working by their early up new forms of recreation and perhaps to individualism – in places as diverse as Italy, Japan and since Covid-19 hit. Furthermore, having grown kids teens–it was rare then for kids to get even retire or change jobs. Mexico – parents mostly prefer to have their emerging still at home is not likely to do you, or them, any a high school education–and their families Those who are married often view adults stay home until marriage. permanent harm. In fact, until very recently, it’s relied upon the extra income. Virginity for since the Pew report was released. this new phase as a time to get to know been the way adults have typically lived throughout young women was highly prized, so it was Always, the premise seems to be the their spouse again – or as a time to admit JEFFREY ARNETT history. Even now, it’s a common practice in most moving out before marriage that was scan- same: Isn’t this awful? their marriage has run its course. Those Senior Research Scholar, Department of Psychology, of the world. dalous, not staying home where they could I would readily agree that it’s awful who are divorced or widowed can now Clark University be shielded from young men. to have your education derailed or to lose have an overnight guest without worrying Staying home is not new or unusual In most of the world today, it is still your job because of the pandemic. But it’s about scrutiny from their adult child at the hen the Pew Research Centre recent- Drawing on the federal government’s monthly typical for emerging adults to stay home not awful to live with your parents during breakfast table the next morning. ly reported that the proportion of Current Population Survey, the Pew Report showed until at least their late 20s. In countries emerging adulthood. Like most of the rest My wife, Lene, and I have direct expe- 18-to-29-year-old Americans who live that 52% of 18-to-29-year-olds are currently living where collectivism is more highly valued of family life, it’s a mixed bag: It’s a pain in rience to draw on with our 20-year-old with their parents has increased during with their parents, up from 47% in February. The than individualism – in places as diverse some ways, and rewarding in others. twins, who came home in March after their theW Covid-19 pandemic, perhaps you saw some of increase was mostly among the younger emerging as Italy, Japan and Mexico – parents most- In a national survey of 18-to-29-year- colleges closed, an experience shared with the breathless headlines hyping how it’s higher than adults – ages 18 to 24 – and was primarily due to ly prefer to have their emerging adults stay olds I directed before the pandemic, 76% millions of students nationwide. I’ll admit at any time since the Great Depression. their coming home from colleges that shut down or home until marriage. In fact, even after of them agreed that they get along better we were enjoying our time as a couple From my perspective, the real story here is less to their having lost their jobs. marriage it remains a common cultural with their parents now than they did in before they moved back in, but neverthe- tradition for a young man to bring his wife adolescence, but almost the same majori- less it was a delight having them unexpect- into his parents’ household rather than ty – 74% – agreed, “I would prefer to live edly return, as they are full of love and add move out. independently of my parents, even if it so much liveliness to the dinner table. Until the modern pension system arose means living on a tight budget.” Now the fall semester has started and about a century ago, aging parents were Parents express similar ambivalence. our daughter, Paris, is still home taking her highly vulnerable and needed their adult In a separate national survey I directed, courses via Zoom, whereas our son, Miles, children and daughters-in-law to care for 61% of parents who had an 18-to-29-year- has returned to college. We’re savouring them in their later years. This tradition old living at home were “mostly positive” these months with Paris. She has a great persists in many countries, including the about that living arrangement, and about sense of humour and makes an excellent two most populous countries in the world, the same percentage agreed that living Korean tofu rice bowl. And we all know India and China. it won’t last. In today’s individualistic U.S., we That’s something worth remembering mostly expect our kids to hit the road by Before 1900 in the United for all of us during these strange times, age 18 or 19 so they can learn to be inde- States, it was typical for especially for parents and emerging adults pendent and self-sufficient. If they don’t, who find themselves sharing living quar- we may worry that there is something young people to live at ters again. It won’t last. wrong with them. home until they married You could see this unexpected change in their mid-20s, and there as awful, as a royal pain and daily stress. You’ll miss them when they’re gone Or you could see it as one more chance to Because I’ve been researching emerging was nothing shameful get to know each other as adults, before adults for a long time, I’ve been doing a about it the emerging adult sails once again over lot of television, radio and print interviews the horizon, this time never to return.

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ed symptoms of depression, anxiety and plan to manage challenging situations as Instead, acknowledge that engaging post-traumatic stress. Parents are also they occur can help your child feel ready with others can feel hard when you’re out struggling emotionally. Adult’s report to meet the world. of practice. Help your child think about increased symptoms of depression, ways they’ve successfully coped with sim- especially those experiencing high Not ready to socially reengage ilar worries in the past. For example, you levels of anxiety related to risk Throughout the pandemic, some children might ask how they handled adjusting to of coronavirus exposure or infec- have continued to attend school in person, kindergarten when it felt new and different tion. Parents are at even greater while others have conducted most of their for them. What did they do then that felt Here’s how to help your kids risk for psychiatric illness, with learning online. During the transition back particularly helpful for coping? many reporting less personal sup- into in-person environments, different peo- If they’re assuming the worst about port since the arrival of Covid-19. ple will adjust to engaging with others at upcoming contact with others, encourage break out of their pandemic Parents must juggle the demands different speeds. flexibility and help them develop more of work, home management, virtual For kids expressing worry about realistic expectations. In so many cases, bubble and transition back schooling and child behaviour during resuming face-to-face social interactions, the anxious anticipation is much worse this time of prolonged isolation. The parents can help ease the process by than the reality of a dreaded social inter- majority of people are able to adapt to new expressing empathy simply and clearly. action. to being with others and stressful situations, but some expe- This hasn’t been an easy time for anyone. Since March 2020, there’s been a significant increase in reported youth rience severe and extended psychological Assist your child in taking smaller, Resistant to a busier, more active anxiety, particularly in relation to fears of the coronavirus, along with distress. more manageable steps toward regular schedule So, what can parents do to care for interactions. For example, your child may For many families, the rise of the Covid- greater frustration, boredom, insomnia and inattention. both themselves and their children as we not feel ready to spend time with friends 19 pandemic cleared calendars that were gradually transition back to interacting indoors, but they may feel comfortable usually packed with obligations. Some DOMINIQUE A. PHILLIPS As things began to open up again and some children, avoiding others has become in public? meeting one pal at an outdoor park. This kids might have welcomed a slower pace Ph.D. Student in Clinical Psychology, her grandmother received the Covid-19 understandably normal and the path back first step can get them started down a or gotten cozy with the more low-key bub- University of Miami vaccine, Pilar’s parents began to hear a new to pre-pandemic interaction may feel like a Worried about catching Covid-19 out path to participating in additional activi- ble lifestyle. Now the shift back to a more signature phrase from her: “I don’t want to challenge to navigate. there ties with more friends or in more settings, active schedule might feel overwhelming. JILL EHRENREICH-MAY go.” Not to her gymnastics class, not to the As children and adolescents begin to leave where safe and appropriate. Setting incre- If your child is having trouble handling Professor of Psychology and Director of the grocery store, not even to the outdoor patio Feeling stressed is normal these days isolation and return to public spaces, they mental goals can help children feel more the loss of downtime, work with them to Child and Adolescent Mood and Anxiety of her favourite restaurant. The pandemic led to abrupt and extended might worry more about becoming sick. in control about facing uncomfortable strike their own version of “work-life bal- Treatment Program, University of Miami After all the events of the past year, changes to families’ routines, including Of course, it’s entirely reasonable to have situations where their initial response may ance.” Help your child create new routines 7-year-old Pilar was apprehensive and wor- more isolation and removal from in-person concerns about health and safety in the be to avoid. that incorporate regular meals, good sleep ried about reengaging with the world out- schooling, that are associated with worsen- midst of an ongoing pandemic. Parents While it may feel easier in the moment hygiene, necessary breaks and organiza- ilar’s parents took all the recom- side her close-knit family. With the return ing mental health in young people. can listen to children’s worries and express to accommodate your child’s desire to tion around completing schoolwork. These mended precautions to shield her to in-person school looming, Pilar’s parents Since March 2020, there’s been a sig- understanding about them in a brief and avoid social situations that feel more awk- steps can establish more structure where it from the dangers of Covid-19. They were at a loss. nificant increase in reported youth anxiety, age-appropriate way. ward or overwhelming than before, it is may be lacking and help ease the burden. stayed at home, away from family, As researchers and clinicians who work particularly in relation to fears of the But parents should also pay attention important not to reinforce such behaviour. Remember to make new or renewed Pfriends and group activities. Pilar had directly with children and families expe- coronavirus, along with greater frustra- to how intense these worries seem to be. Prolonged avoidance can lead to even activities as fun as possible to promote remained in virtual schooling throughout riencing anxiety, we have heard many tion, boredom, insomnia and inattention. Is your child getting caught up in exces- more anxiety and less confidence in social- buy-in from family members. While things the pandemic as a first and then second versions of this story as the U.S. enters a Results of a survey from summer 2020 sive hand-washing and cleaning? Adamant izing. will most certainly get busier, maintaining grader. new stage of the coronavirus pandemic. For found that over 45% of adolescents report- about avoiding even public spaces that positive one-on-one or family time with you deem safe? With kids who are strug- For kids expressing worry your child will help them feel supported as gling, parents can discuss the differences they move into this next stage. As children and adolescents begin to leave isolation between appropriate and excessive safety about resuming face-to- The good news is that many children and return to public spaces, they might worry more precautions. face social interactions, like Pilar are highly resilient and recov- Remind your child that while it’s parents can help ease the er well from difficult circumstances. The about becoming sick. Of course, it’s entirely reasonable important to be safe, it is also important Covid-19 pandemic is something kids have to have concerns about health and safety in the midst to adapt your safety strategies to new process by expressing been coping with, in some cases, for much of an ongoing pandemic. information and situations. Drawing dis- empathy simply and of their young lives. It may take time and tinctions between what you and your clearly. This hasn’t been an patience, but with positive support, even children can and cannot control when it more anxious kids like Pilar can ease their comes to getting sick, limiting excessive easy time for anyone. way back to a comfortable, confident “new reassurance about safety and having a normal.”

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safely as long as other mitigation protocols like mask-wearing and adequate ventilation are in How can all schools safely reopen? place. Vaccines offer an added level of protection. The vaccines currently approved for use in Infection with the Covid-19 virus has been less common in school-age children, especially the U.S. under emergency use authorization are those in elementary school, than among other age groups. all highly effective at preventing mild, moderate and severe Covid-19 disease, and they also pre- vent infections. This means that these vaccines both protect the vaccinated person and reduce the risk of transmission from a vaccinated to an unvac- cinated person. This is critical, because at this time there are no vaccines approved for use in those under the age of 16 in the U.S. Pfizer and Moderna have trials underway in adolescents and hope to have results by late spring or early summer. In the meantime, to protect students from infection, it will help to vaccinate as many adults as possible in schools. Transmission is far more common from teacher to student and teacher to teacher than from student to teacher. So far, research that has not yet been peer-reviewed shows that the vac- cines approved for use in the U.S. have similar efficacy against the newly emerging variants of concern, especially in terms of preventing severe disease.

What is the right amount of physical distancing? So long as people are wearing masks, there is no evidence that 6-foot physical distancing between students is more effective than 3-foot distancing. This led the CDC to shift its guidance to recommend a physical distancing of only 3 feet in classrooms. Three-foot distancing allows for much more flexibility in terms of classroom Pfizer and Moderna BRANDON GUTHRIE than 15 years of research experience – and cially those in elementary school, than What about teacher and staff size and layout. Face masks are highly effective as co-editor of the Covid-19 Literature among other age groups. Evidence from vaccinations? in reducing infection and transmission risk and have trials underway Assistant Professor of Global Health and Situation Report, which produces a daily Florida, Utah, Missouri and elsewhere indi- Spread of Covid-19 through in-person K-12 are therefore a critical mitigation measure. Epidemiology, University of Washington in adolescents and summary of the most relevant newly pub- cates that less than 1% of school-age chil- schooling has been limited, even without In addition, early research suggests that hope to have results he question of when and how to lished and pre-print literature related to dren have had Covid-19, despite most being vaccinations. Teachers are now eligible to keeping students in groups, or cohorts, and open schools for full in-person learn- Covid-19 - I offer answers to some of the in school in person. Most cases have not be vaccinated in all states in the U.S., which limiting contact among cohorts may reduce the by late spring or ing in the midst of the Covid-19 most urgent questions about how schools been linked to school exposures. means that the risk to teachers and staff potential for widespread transmission if a case early summer. In pandemic is one of the most conse- can safely resume in-person instruction. While school outbreaks have occurred, who are vaccinated, as well as to students occurs in a school. Cohorting can also minimize the meantime, to Tquential the U.S. currently faces. A wealth Some of this evidence is gleaned from pre- most have been small in scale. Transmission and others who may not be willing or able the number of students who would need to be of evidence suggests that schools can pro- print studies that may change after they are from an infected student to others in the to be vaccinated, is greatly reduced. quarantined. protect students from vide in-person instruction with a very low peer-reviewed. household or community has been rare. No studies give us a magic number for infection, it will help level of risk when safety protocols are While not definitively proved by scien- the proportion of teachers and staff who On the bus or other transportation to vaccinate as many successfully implemented. Will school make children more likely tific studies, indications are that elementary need to be vaccinated before in-person Just as in the classroom, masks work when trans- So, what do school districts, teachers, to transmit Covid-19? school-age children are less likely than learning can be implemented. In fact, the porting students to and from school. Double- adults as possible in families and students need to know? As an Infection with the Covid-19 virus has been older children and adults to transmit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention masking is probably best, especially in indoor schools infectious disease epidemiologist with more less common in school-age children, espe- Covid-19 virus to others. advises that in-person learning can start spaces, including cars and buses. Ventilation

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with outside air – either by opening windows or avoiding ven- tilation that recirculates air – may help to reduce the risk of transmis- sion in buses. Students should space out as much as possible, given the elevated risk of transmission seen among passengers sitting close to an infected individual on airplanes, although universal mask usage is likely to reduce the importance of physical spacing. While droplet and airborne transmission of the Covid-19 virus appear to be the dominant modes of transmission, hand-washing and using hand sanitizers before entering buses and upon exit may help reduce the risk of transmission through contact with contaminated surfaces. Recognition is our The gym, recess and after-school sports Are masks still required? This has been true in Florida, Growing evidence shows that kids Masks are likely to be a critical part Massachusetts, Salt Lake City, reward for aiming high can play sports and have recess if of protocols to prevent Covid-19 in England and elsewhere. they are outdoors and players have schools, at least until vaccines are In contrast, not wearing masks no or low contact. Based on studies, universally available, including for was a problem in schools in Sweden. Triple winner at the Asian Banker Transaction including some that have not yet children. Even then, the potential In this Scandinavian country, been peer-reviewed, activities such emergence of new variants that are younger secondary-school students Awards, Middle East and Africa 2020. as soccer, tennis and cross-country resistant to existing vaccines may returned to full-time, in-person are fine. make mask usage a necessity for learning without masks and with The American Academy of some time. Schools that have pro- few other mitigation measures. Older Pediatrics recommends that athletes vided in-person instruction during secondary-school students continued participating in indoor sports wear the Covid-19 pandemic, including with remote learning. Students and masks, except those participating in during periods of high communi- staff who went to school in person swimming and diving, cheerleading, ty transmission, have experienced and without masks or other safety gymnastics and wrestling, to prevent few widespread outbreaks directly measures had a somewhat higher choking or suffocation. Some indoor related to school transmission when likelihood of having Covid-19 com- sports, particularly wrestling and masks are used. pared with those learning remotely, hockey, have been associated with although the absolute risk was still large outbreaks. Also, outbreaks of quite low. Covid-19 have been associated with Growing evidence shows that kids football teams. How critical is soap or hand An important finding from a can play sports and have recess sanitizer? number of investigations is that if they are outdoors and players While the coronavirus that causes many of the cases of transmission, have no or low contact. Based Covid-19 has been detected on sur- including on football teams, appear faces, touching those surfaces doesn’t to be linked to activities not directly on studies, including some that appear to be the dominant route of related to the sport itself, such as have not yet been peer-reviewed, transmission. Even so, hand-washing meetings in enclosed spaces without activities such as soccer, tennis and using hand sanitizers are still masks, eating together and parties and cross-country are fine good ideas. Face masks and physi- and social events. cal distancing are more important, absabank.co.ke though.

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While there was no female appeal 1993 court judge in 2010, they constituted seven of the 22 Court of Appeal judges by 2017 The first woman (32%). The proportion grew from 40% judge joined to 42% in the High Court and from 32% the High Court only in 1993. to 40% in all superior courts during the It was not until same period. Moreover, the proportion of 2003 that the women magistrates jumped from 37% to a first woman whopping 78%. judge joined the The Supreme Court has only had two Court of Appeal, then the highest women justices out of seven since its estab- court in the lishment in 2011. This still falls short of land. the one-third minimum threshold required under Kenya’s constitution for all public institutions. This is about to change with the ascendance of a woman judge to the women judges–while they themselves were Koome has been an active and top of the tier, increasing the number to not in the Court of Appeal–had an indirect long-standing member of the International three. impact in those courts. This they achieved Association of Women Judges–Kenya by training their male peers in the Court Chapter, which focuses on access to justice Why women judges matter of Appeal and High Court to apply inter- for women and children. She was the UN There is a proliferation of studies that national human rights instruments–such Person of the Year 2020 runner up, rec- show that having women judges really as the Convention on the Elimination of ognised for her advocacy work to improve matters. These studies are framed on two Discrimination Against Women. the rights of women and children in the justifications: first on grounds of legit- These international human rights justice system. imacy. On this count, judiciaries must instruments were not yet infused into Doubtlessly, her ascendance to the role democratically represent and mirror the Kenyan laws at the time. Their efforts bore of Chief Justice raises hope and expecta- population characteristics in terms of gen- fruit particularly in matrimonial proper- tions among many for a better world for der, race, class, among others. ty disputes at a time when the Kenyan women and children. The second justification is the differ- Constitution sanctioned discrimination is a historic moment for Kenyan women, ence that women judges will make for against women. Looking ahead Kenya has its first female who have been missing from higher rank- gender justice. Some researchers posit There was a setback later after an Chief Justice Martha Koome will be imme- ing courts until recent years. Women in that they bring in an essentially female Appeal bench reversed the precedent in diately confronted with a standoff between the judiciary were initially concentrated perspective to judging and law that is more 2007, requiring wives to prove direct the judiciary and the executive arms of chief justice: Why this matter in magistrates’ courts. This excluded them “motherly”, or “womanly”. Others argue contribution to matrimonial property. government that has stalled the appoint- from high-ranking cases that shaped the that women judges bring their unique life This was before the 2010 Constitution. ment of 41 judges of the High Court and Justice Martha Koome’s nomination is a historic moment for Kenyan women, legal principles to be followed, often for experiences to judging that will challenge Since then, the Constitution and the 2013 Court of Appeal. She also faces a huge who have been missing from higher ranking courts until recent years. years to come. laws that reflect male concerns. Still others Matrimonial Property Act both recognise backlog of cases built up over years. Women in the judiciary were initially concentrated in magistrates’ courts. The first woman judge joined the High believe that women judges will sensitise the equality of parties to a marriage, and She will be the President of a Supreme Court only in 1993. It was not until 2003 and educate male judges about gender the value of care, domestic and farm work Court and head of a judiciary that has that the first woman judge joined the Court stereotypes, myths and male bias reflected as non-monetary contribution to marriage. been perceived as conservative in a few women – for the job during interviews car- of Appeal, then the highest court in the in their judgments. serious matters of constitutional and pub- MARTHA GAYOYE ried out by the Judicial Service Commission land. My own recent research in the Kenyan lic importance. These include the imple- Teaching Fellow, University of Warwick between 10 April and 23 April 2021. Since then, there has been progress in context contributes to these existing There is a proliferation mentation of the two thirds gender prin- Justice Martha Koome will become the number of women joining the judiciary debates about why women judges mat- ciple and electoral fairness among others. the third Chief Justice under the 2010 and rising through the ranks, particularly ter. I examined their collective efforts of studies that show that Internally, the new chief justice is f parliament formally approves the constitution. She succeeds Chief Justice after the promulgation of Kenya’s new such as the Equality of Jurisprudence having women judges expected to extend ongoing reforms. Most nomination of Justice Martha Koome Maraga who retired on 12 January 2021 constitution in 2010. This was largely due Programme run by the Kenya Women really matters. These importantly, she will continue the reforms as the next and upon reaching the age of 70. Chief Justice to the application of the two-thirds gender Judges Association. The association was to rid the judiciary of corruption, ineffi- president of the Supreme Court, as is Maraga will be remembered for his role in principle found in the new constitution. founded in 1993 by Justices Effie Owuor studies are framed on ciencies leading to case backlogs while widelyI expected, she will become the first the Supreme Court bench that overturned There have been divergent views on wheth- and Joyce Aluoch, who have been joined two justifications: first on embracing ICT in the justice system. All woman to occupy the seat in Kenya’s his- President Uhuru Kenyatta’s election in er this threshold applies to each court, or– by many more judges over the years, grounds of legitimacy these are intended to enhance access to tory. Justice Martha Koome topped nine 2017 over irregularities. as the Judicial Service Commission insists– including Martha Koome. justice and win the people’s trust in the other candidates – including two other Justice Martha Koome’s nomination the judiciary as a whole. My research found that these pioneer judiciary.

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slightly more supportive of unrestricted digital media than women (50% vs. 47%). Restricting digital media is a gamble for African leaders Perhaps surprisingly, support for unre- stricted digital media does not fall neatly Governments have given varying justifications for these moves. along political lines. Even among those These include: combating hate speech and fake news in Chad and who said they trusted their president Ethiopia, suppressing violence in Sudan, and preventing exam “somewhat” or “a lot”, 45% still supported unrestricted digital media, versus 39% cheating in Algeria and Sudan. who favoured restrictions. Those who said they only trusted their national leader JEFFREY CONROY-KRUTZ In some cases, official reasoning has “a little” or “not at all” were even more Associate Professor of Political Science, shifted over time. When Uganda shut down supportive of open digital media: 53% Michigan State University digital media surrounding its January supported unrestricted access and 34% 2021 elections, foreign affairs minister Sam supported regulations. Kutesa initially said the move was retali- ovid-19 pushed much of the world ation for Facebook’s and Twitter’s actions Cost of shutdowns into the digital realm for every- against government accounts. Restricting digital media is a gamble for thing from schooling and work to Investigations had alleged the govern- African leaders. On the one hand, many religious worship and dating. At ment was behind “coordinated inauthentic governments are embracing digital media theC same time, many governments were behaviour” using fake accounts to spread shutdowns, particularly around elections turning data connections off. Full or partial disinformation and intimidate the oppo- and protests, to limit threats. They argue shutdowns of the internet and social media sition. After the election, however, Kutesa such moves are necessary to halt “the are increasingly common parts of the “digi- said the move was “a necessary step to stop dissemination of messages inciting hate tal authoritarian” toolkit. the vitriolic language and incitement to and division”, as a Chadian government Many leaders seem threatened by the violence.” spokesperson put it. In some cases, like way digital media make it possible to share Ethiopia and Mali, populations seem gen- information and organise. Research shows Views on digital media limits erally supportive of governments’ restric- that 2020 saw 156 full or partial shut- Online commentary usually harshly criticis- tions. downs of the internet or social media like es these shutdowns. But these posts aren’t But commerce, education and social Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. South necessarily representative of general public communication are increasingly online. Asia accounts for almost three quarters of opinion in affected countries. One analysis found that digital media these shutdowns, with India leading the To get a sense of broader opinion restrictions cost African economies way. on these issues, we analysed data from some $237 million in 2020. And using Africa was the next most affect- Afrobarometer. This is an independent Afrobarometer data from 16 countries, we ed region, with 20 shutdowns affecting African research network that conduct- find that the share of Africans who regu- 12 countries. Disruptions lasted from as ed nationally representative surveys in larly get news from digital media almost short as a day or less, in Burundi, Egypt, 18 countries in 2019/20. About 27,000 doubled, from 22% to 38%, between 2014 and Togo, to nearly 90 days in parts of Africans participated in these surveys. and 2019. Ethiopia’s Oromia Region. A recent block- A larger share of respondents support- choice between two statements, 48% agreed Guarding freedoms the positions. Factors like age, residence If African populations are sceptical age of social media in Chad lasted for more ed access to digital media. When given a that “unrestricted access to the internet Unsurprisingly, regular users of digital and education also made a difference. The now of limits on digital media, that oppo- than a year. and social media helps people to be more media were more supportive of freedoms. groups more likely to use digital media sition might grow as more enter the digi- And 2021 has already seen shutdowns informed and active citizens, and should be Of the 37% of respondents who reported were also more supportive of unrestricted tal space for commerce, work, education, in Niger, Senegal and Uganda. Restricting digital media protected”. Only 36% agreed that “informa- using some form of digital media for their access. entertainment and social communications. Governments have given varying jus- is a gamble for African tion shared on the internet and social media news at least a few times a week, 62% The youngest respondents (18-25) Shutdowns will generate not only higher tifications for these moves. These include: leaders. On the one hand, is dividing (our country), so access should favoured unrestricted access. Only 35% were almost twice as likely to oppose economic costs, but likely greater public combating hate speech and fake news in be regulated by the government”. favoured regulations. restrictions than the oldest respondents outrage as well. Chad and Ethiopia, suppressing violence many governments are Majorities in 10 countries supported Over half (54%) of respondents report- (over 60) were (56% vs 30%). Urban in Sudan, and preventing exam cheating in embracing digital media unrestricted access. Support was high- ed never using digital media for news in residents favoured unrestricted access Algeria and Sudan. Disruptions in Mali in shutdowns, particularly est in Cabo Verde (64%), Gabon (63%), the last month. Those non-users were more more than rural residents (56% vs 43%). Joseph Koné, a research associate and 2020 coincided with anti-government pro- Côte d’Ivoire (63%) and Nigeria (61%). divided, with 37% favouring regulations And those with post-secondary education finance officer at Centre de Recherche et around elections and de Formation sur le Développement Intégré tests, while shutdowns were timed around Majorities supported regulation in only and 39% favouring unrestricted access. A were much more favourable towards unre- (CREFDI), the Afrobarometer National Partner elections in Burundi, Guinea, Tanzania, protests, to limit threats. three countries: Mali (53%), Ethiopia (53%) quarter (24%) of non-users did not share stricted access than those without formal in Ivory Coast, was co-author of the research and Togo. and Tunisia (59%). an opinion or could not choose between education (60% vs 34%). Men were only on which this article is based.

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truth to power without many of the docu- mented constraints faced by mainstream journalists. However, audiences take on the bur- As press freedom den of assessing the credibility of informa- tion that does not necessarily go through traditional verification processes. continues to Pundits are airing talk shows on YouTube to analyse and dissect the politi- cal landscape without limiting themselves struggle in Kenya, to strictly government or official sources. Activists are using social media to fight Kenya’s inefficient electricity provider. alternatives keep Academics are taking advantage of new media platforms to teach, debate and interact with both academic and non-aca- hope alive demic audiences. And activists have created online data- bases to monitor Kenyan legislators, track Reporters Without Borders reported that 50 journalists official documents and monitor parliamen- from around the world died in the course of duty. tary proceedings and records. Their deaths were linked to investigative stories about Satirists, parodists and cartoonists corruption, misuse of public funds, organised crime, have not been left behind. They are using and the coverage of protests. digital media outlets to share animations and cartoons that keep leaders account- able. They also encourage citizens to par- ticipate in issues of governance. And envi- ronmental and civil society organisations are using the global reach of websites to WAMBUI WAMUNYU These assaults on press freedom ate content. There is an emerging group of promote green energy locally. occurred within the Covid-19 pandemic, citizens, activists, experts, and independent Many of these voices do not aspire to Senior Lecturer in Media Studies, Daystar which compounded existing problems. journalists who have become an alternative be as objective as the traditional press. University Our mission is to share knowledge and source of credible, useful information. They often have an agenda. Some of their inform decisions. In these difficult times, this is refresh- agendas include fighting impunity or cor- s we mark World Press Freedom In Kenya, the first Covid-19 case was ingly good news. ruption, exposing injustice against the Day 2021, let us remember that announced in March 2020. Since then, This year’s World Press Freedom Day poor and marginalised, promoting deeper 2020 was terrible for the press in about 600 journalists have been retrenched. theme–Information as a Public Good–pro- citizen engagement in governance, and many parts of the world. Many have endured pay cuts, and others vided an opportunity to appreciate this creating political understanding. ATwo ranking measures–the World Press long delays in salary payment. wider range of voices. Despite being unapologetically agen- downs, new tax regimes, and content and interfered with by heavy-handed political Freedom Index 2021 and African Media A September 2020 report published da-driven, they are dismantling the notion revenue-generation restrictions from social and economic systems that limit the inde- Barometer publications–indicate that jour- by Article 19, a human rights organisation Digital technologies of the traditional mass media – television, media companies. pendence of media houses and individual nalists globally continued to face multiple that promotes freedom of expression, indi- Digital technologies have provided relative- newspapers, and radio – as the primary or Thus, despite the emergence of new journalists. That is a disservice to the challenges. These included intimidation, cated that at least 48 journalists had been ly cheap and accessible platforms which only sources of information that is in the voices in the digital space, Kenya is citizens. physical or online harassment, surveillance, attacked or restrained from doing their citizens and activists have used to share public good. nowhere near an ideal situation when it The rankings help to show the range of disappearance, threats, arbitrary arrests, work during the pandemic. ideas and to present the views and perspec- comes to press freedom. challenges that deny Kenyans quality and assaults, and lack of access to public facili- The various reports and rankings mea- tives of marginalised or non-elite commu- Unique challenges untainted information from the traditional ties, authorities or data. sure the degree of freedom available to tra- nities. These platforms include WhatsApp, The newer voices may not be included in Towards more freedom gatherers and sharers of news. Reporters Without Borders reported ditional journalists working in established YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and journalism ranking lists but they also face Generally, the mainstream press should But the alternative voices also give that 50 journalists from around the world media outlets. They show that mainstream blogging websites. their own particular challenges to their be able to operate independently, sustain hope that no matter what tactics are used died in the course of duty. Their deaths media houses have been hardest hit by Even though Kenya ranked 102 out of freedoms of speech and expression. itself financially, and share information for to muzzle, restrict, limit or censor informa- were linked to investigative stories about these challenges. 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Their voices and views are stifled or the service of society. tion, trustworthy information that serves corruption, misuse of public funds, organ- This has opened up space for other Index, there has been an emergence of limited through legislation, disinformation Its normative role–widely espoused as the public good can still find its way to ised crime, and the coverage of protests. media workers to report the news and cre- voices in the digital space who are speaking and censorship campaigns, internet shut- being to serve the public good—is often those who matter most: the citizens.

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PETER MACHARIA In our second study, we evaluated the impact of the estimated determinants on child survival. Newton Int’l fellow at Lancaster University and We did this by using epidemiological impact Visting researcher, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research evaluation approaches. We gathered rich insights into Programme Our findings showed that in the early 1990s, the coverage of interventions was average. EMELDA OKIRO Coverage began to deteriorate through to early child survival in Kenya by 2000. After 2006, there was an improvement in Head of Population Health Unit, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme coverage of interventions and reduction in dis- ease infection prevalence. Thirty-eight of the 43 mapping patterns over 22 years mprovements in child survival globally have mapped factors recorded an improvement over been remarkable. Deaths of children under the two decades. Kenya has also made significant strides in promoting child health through five declined by 59% from 93 deaths per However, the improvement wasn’t uniform. legal frameworks. But floods, droughts, epidemics and post-election 1,000 live births in 1990 to 38 in 2019. It ranged between 1% and 898% (increase in IHowever, 5.2 million child deaths still coverage or decrease in disease prevalence) at violence have made child survival more difficult. occurred in 2019. Over half of these were in the national level. For example, maternal litera- sub-Saharan Africa. And all five countries with cy increased by 9.6% while the use of bed nets child mortality rates above 100 deaths per 1,000 among children living in malaria endemic areas live births were found in Africa. increased from 6.2% in 2003 to 61.9% in 2014, a While Kenya had 43 deaths per 1,000 live percentage increase of 898%. births in 2019, our previous work showed big There were also marked differences across the differences across the 47 counties since 1965. counties. Considerable differences in the coverage A range of factors were likely behind this. These between factors were observed at the county level, included disparity in the coverage of interven- ranging from low (less than 35%) for improved tions such as the uptake of childhood immuni- sanitation to high (over 65%) for childhood sations, supplements and breastfeeding practices. immunisations by 2014. Other important factors include pregnant women Counties in Northern Kenya consistently attending antenatal care, having skilled birth showed lower coverage of interventions through- attendants and delivering their babies in a health- out the period up to 2014. They did, however, care facility. have lower malaria and HIV infection prevalence. We have conducted two studies that give Areas around Central Kenya have historically granular insights into the situation in regions had – and continue to have – higher coverage across Kenya. Between them the studies show across all intervention domains. which regions have insufficient coverage, which Most counties in Western and South-East have high disease infection rates, and what fac- Kenya along the Indian Ocean recorded moderate tors have the greatest impact on child survival. intervention coverage across all factors. But they Our mission is to share knowledge and bear the greatest burden of HIV and malaria inform decisions. Our findings show that Kenya infection prevalence. needs to focus its child care plans based on We observed correlation between perfor- localities and populations with the greatest need. mance and levels of investment in affordable Prioritisation is key. and accessible healthcare services. Some of the Our research provides a good starting point interventions have included policies on user fee, as an evaluation of what is currently in place – expanded immunisation programmes for com- and what the threats to child survival are – at a mon childhood illness, schools, community and local level. This is vital because national aggre- health facility-based initiatives. Control inter- gates mask distinct differences across the country. ventions for diseases such as HIV and malaria, integrated management of childhood illness and Big differences across regions the impetus to improve child survival also made In our first study, we set out to explore disparities a difference. and inequities by estimating the coverage and Kenya has also made significant strides in pro- prevalence of 43 determinants. This we did for moting child health through legal frameworks. But each of Kenya’s 47 counties every year between floods, droughts, epidemics and post-election vio- 1993 and 2014. lence have made child survival more difficult.

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increase in access to better sanita- tion, fever treatment-seeking rates and maternal autonomy. Reduced stunting and increased coverage of early breastfeeding and institutional deliveries (overall increased from 41.6% in 1993 to 62.2% in 2014 and averted 31,000 deaths) were associated with a smaller number of deaths averted compared to the other factors. Again, there were wide variances across regions in Kenya. The highest number of deaths averted was record- ed in western and coastal Kenya, while northern Kenya recorded a slightly lower number. Central Kenya had the lowest number of deaths averted. A unique set of factors contributed to these wide differences. Child mortality rate (under five years old) in Kenya from 1900 to 2020. Source | Statista What needs to be done Our research provides an additional Determinants that made a tool for determining what to prioritise, big difference where to target and when to inter- Our second study identified ten vene. The Commission on Revenue major determinants associated with Allocation, which allocates funds changes in child survival in Kenya. to county government, can use it to They included: deliveries in a health inform the allocation of funds. facility, receiving all basic childhood Divisions within the ministry of vaccines, households’ access to better health such as the national malaria sanitation, seeking treatment after control programme and international fever, HIV and malaria infection development partners can also use prevalence, infants’ breastfeeding the estimates to evaluate the impact NEED A within the first hour of birth, the of interventions and funding or justify prevalence of stunting in children, support for outreach programmes. the number of children in a house- The findings also form a baseline hold and maternal autonomy. The for monitoring sustainable develop- BUSINESS LOAN? autonomy factor was measured by ment goals, county-specific targets and assessing a woman’s personal power inputs in epidemiological studies. in the household and her ability to The framework can be applied to We are here to partner with you. influence and change her environ- update estimates and evaluate progress ment. at a more granular level such as the If your project has been in existence for a For more information Under-five mortality increased in sub-county level as new data sources the 1990s, which resulted in many become available, including data from period of two years and above, ICDC Corporate contact us on: children not living to see their fifth the 2019 census or the revamped rou- loan is what you need to grow your business. birthday. This trend was linked to Under-five mortality increased in the 1990s, tine health information system. [email protected] rising HIV infection prevalence and which resulted in many children not living to Decisions based on the findings Loan period is between 3 to 10 years with [email protected] reduced maternal autonomy. see their fifth birthday. This trend was linked and recommendations will improve competitive interest rates After 2006 the high number of child survival and enhance health to rising HIV infection prevalence and reduced Loan amount range from Kes 10m to Kes 250m. Or call us on: child deaths started to come down. maternal autonomy. equity across Kenya’s 47 county gov- This was associated with a decline in ernments, getting closer to ensuring no Cellphone: +254 727 534572, the prevalence of HIV and malaria, child is left behind. *Terms and Conditions apply +254 736 229213 Tel: +254 020 2771000 124 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 125 POLITICS Sector Review

Conflating morality and The adoption of the anti-corruption the law do South Africa’s resolution and governing party no good election of Cyril Ramaphosa as president of the Morality shapes people’s lives, including their thoughts and actions, on the basis of what ANC, and of the society generally accepts as right and wrong. country, created It is used to check people’s “self-interested, optimism that, emotional, or sentimental reactions to serious finally, the party was questions of human conduct”. set to mend its ways.

MASHUPYE HERBERT MASERUMULE established in 2013 to be reactions to serious Instead of those who run afoul of the The commission cannot pronounce Professor of Public Affairs, Tshwane University the custodian questions of human resolution stepping aside, contrasting legal on the guilt or blamelessness of a per- of Technology of this moral conduct”. This is what opinions are sought. They don’t provide son, but on political morality, a function stance, after a enables people to clarity; they cloud a resolution that has all of moral conscience and consciousness. ince the African National Congress series of scandals coexist. along been clear. Unfortunately, it is becoming difficult (ANC) came to power in South that damaged its Morality depends As the American sociologist Robert for some in the ANC to appreciate this. Africa in 1994, it has been dogged public image. on one’s conscience to MacIver once said, ‘to turn all moral obli- Indeed, as the American political activist by corruption and abuse of power. freely comply with societal gations into legal obligations would be to Upton Sinclair once said: ‘it is difficult to SThese “sins of incumbency” – the seduc- On a path to expectations. destroy morality ‘. get a man to understand something when tion of politicians and public officials by political morality? The law, which the legal his salary depends upon his not under- power and their abuse of it for their own This, followed by the scholar Arthur Scheller Jr defines Innocent till proven guilty standing it ‘. ends – became endemic during former adoption of the anti-corrup- as “an ordination of reason for the Subjecting the ANC’s “step-aside” reso- president Jacob Zuma’s term (May 2009 to tion resolution and election of common good”, is a system of rules that lution to legal interpretation ignores the Way forward February 2018). Cyril Ramaphosa as president of prescribe behaviour and is enforceable. context that gave rise to it, and its aim of The conflation of morality with legali- The details coming out of the Zondo the ANC, and of the country, created Various formations in society, such as restoring morality within the party. That is ty has obfuscated a resolution that led commission of inquiry into state capture optimism that, finally, the party was set to political parties, may have their own laws imperative if the ANC is to regain trust in many corruption-weary South Africans to have shown how deeply this has taken root. mend its ways. or rules to regulate the conduct of their society and win votes. believe that the ANC, which fancies itself Can the governing party dig it out? That was easier said than done. Three members. But such rules should not con- Sticking to the legal principle that one “the leader of society”, was set on a new The ANC passed a resolution on how to years later, the resolution is embroiled in tution, and that of the country, or not. tradict the supreme law of the land - the is innocent until proven guilty, just to keep path of moral political rectitude. deal with dishonesty in its ranks at its 54th controversies, pitting the ANC’s factions But this misses the point in that it constitution - especially in a constitutional those who flout the resolution in office, Building organisational integrity national conference in December 2017. against each other. The biggest test came conflates morality and the law. It will scup- democracy founded on the principles of misses the point. requires that party leaders be guided Our mission is to share knowledge and last November, when the party’s secretary per the resolution, robbing the ANC of a the rule of law. The guilt or innocence of a person is by their moral conscience. These should inform decisions. It resolved that any of general, Ace Magashule, was charged with chance to clean up its act. If the distinction Morals and laws are not binaries. They a function of a juridical process or law. shape the party’s moral disposition in line its cadres “accused of, or reported to be corruption and appeared in court. between morality and legality is blurred, complement each other. When the law That they should step aside is a moral with its values and principles to achieve its involved in, corrupt practices are to account He defied the integrity commission’s the resolution could be mired in miscon- enhances moral conscience and morality stance. It is also for this reason that the purpose, which has always been about the to the Integrity Committee immediately or call on him to step aside, insisting that ceptions. promotes legal consciousness, people can party established its integrity commission, common good. face disciplinary processes”. only the party’s branches could make live together harmoniously and ethically. whose mandate is to protect the image of Changing the party’s rules to make the It added that those who fail to give an that demand. His loyalists pushed back Morality versus the law The confluence of morality and law the organisation and enhance its standing integrity commission’s recommendations acceptable explanation or to voluntarily against the resolution while those aligned Morality shapes people’s lives, including is what makes for a good society. This is in society by ensuring, among others, that binding is not going to make party leaders step down while they face disciplinary, to Ramaphosa supported it. The matter their thoughts and actions, on the basis what the ANC fails to grasp. It uses the urgent action is taken to deal with public and members internalise morality. What investigative or prosecutorial procedures became embroiled in legalistic arguments of what society generally accepts as right law to stymie its own resolution, which officials, leaders and members of the ANC the ANC needs is genuine commitment to were to be summarily suspended. about whether his stepping aside would be and wrong. It is used to check people’s is basically about the party reclaiming its who face damaging allegations of improp- institutionalise ethical leadership among The party’s integrity commission was just and in keeping with the ANC’s consti- “self-interested, emotional, or sentimental political morality. er conduct. all in its ranks.

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ruption policymaking that conventional sharing with, the family results in practices Another big driver of corruption in Social norms and poor services measures have largely failed to address. of favouritism as explained by a health pro- Tanzania and Uganda was the belief However, unless basic problems of vider in Kampala, Uganda, who observed that corruption is commonplace, and is accessibility and quality of public services that, ‘Your relative must be given priority expected and accepted. This stereotype drive petty corruption in East are addressed, it will be extremely difficult if there is not an emergency. My mother, is used to justify corrupt behaviours and to eradicate informal strategies to obtain father, son or daughter come first’. those of the doctors, nurses and pharma- the desired healthcare. In some cases, family pressures pushed cists. Africa’s health sector public servants to abuse their positions and Social norms and networks engage in illegal acts, such as embezzle- Rwanda case The research was conducted between ment of public funds or misuse of public Our research in Rwanda suggests that January 2016 and August 2017 in Rwanda, resources. For example, focus group discus- accessing health services by relying on Tanzania and Uganda. sions in Tanzania showed that the misuse networks is much less and limited to those For our research we carried out inter- of public resources was motivated by the very close to health staff. views, focus group discussions and surveys. need to contribute to family duties such as This is predominantly associated with Our target communities were providers and paying for children’s school fees, weddings the fact that you don’t need special con- receivers of healthcare. For those seeking and funeral costs. nections or money to have access to good treatment, we targeted women of child quality health services. The East Africa bearing age, young men, and elderly and Bribery Index illustrates this point: the disabled people. least probability for the request or offer The evidence suggests that social norms for bribery was recorded at Rwanda’s and networks play a role in fuelling and medical and health services. reproducing practices of petty corruption. Our research suggests that this is Users of public health facilities in Uganda because it’s less socially accepted. And it and Tanzania often turned to their social is partially helped by authorities publicly network, family, friends, friends of friends, shaming those caught engaging in corrup- when seeking medical services. tion, preventing it from becoming a norm. When personal connections are absent, Conventional anti-corruption n East Africa, there are concerns over anti-corruption legislation and institutions offers of unsolicited bribes and gifts are Traditional measures measures and approaches often widespread petty corruption in some of in place but all yielded different results. used to create a relationship with the Conventional anti-corruption measures the countries’ health and medical ser- Our research found evidence that social provider. The expectation is that having a and approaches often seek to scale up seek to scale up penalties and, vices. This makes access to them con- norms and shared beliefs spur corruption. “provider friend” helps facilitate access to penalties and, by so doing, increase deter- by so doing, increase deterrence. Iditional on who you know or who you can For example, people are swayed by social treatment. rence. Some focus on better laws, reg- Some focus on better laws, pay, to the detriment of everyone else who pressure to help relatives, share contacts Social norms even dictate how large ulations and education and awareness regulations and education and doesn’t have the money or connections. or reciprocate favours received from their a bribe should be. In both Uganda and campaigns about the negative effects of awareness campaigns about the In Uganda and Tanzania health service networks. Many also believe that corrup- Tanzania, for those that were close–like corruption. But these aren’t necessarily negative effects of corruption. providers are ranked as some of the most tion is normal. family members–it would be a small gift or effective in addressing root issues. bribery-prone institutions in the country. This was very evident in Uganda and bribe. But for those more socially distant, Integrating behavioural insights into By contrast, health and medical services Tanzania, but to a much lesser extent in like friends of friends, they were asked to Evidence suggests that anti-corruption programming can provide in Rwanda are ranked as the least bribery Rwanda. This highlights our findings on pay more. social norms and networks complementary avenues to strengthen SABA KASSA prone. why this behaviour comes about in the these endeavours. They pay attention to We wanted to understand the first place: people engage in corruption Pressure from relatives play a role in fuelling and social norms and beliefs that have sup- Public Governance Specialist, Basel Institute, behavioural drivers, such as the role of when health services are less available or The research also illustrated how corrup- reproducing practices of ported the persistence of corrupt practices University of Basel social norms and beliefs, in spurring petty accessible. tion was perpetuated by relatives working petty corruption. Users to begin with. corruption. To do this, we investigated the In Rwanda effective government social within the health industry. The duty to We are exploring this in detail by CLAUDIA BAEZ CAMARGO decisions of those seeking medical treat- programmes exist. For example, Ubudehe help and provide for one’s relatives was an of public health facilities developing an intervention that works Head of Public Governance, Basel Institute, ment and of health service providers that provides targeted support to the poor- essential, unquestionable premise of social in Uganda and Tanzania with social networks and community fuel petty corruption in Tanzania, Uganda est and most vulnerable groups. The pro- life in the three countries. opinion leaders. It uses behavioural tech- University of Basel often turned to their social and Rwanda. gramme has reduced the reliance of citizens A health sector district official in niques–such as environmental nudges We focused on these three East African on informal social networks by ensuring Tanzania explained that: It’s not that we network, family, friends, which would encourage a certain type of JACOPO COSTA countries, which share a common border access to public services and social benefits. have a lot of money to help five or six friends of friends, when behaviour, like anti-corruption posters–to west of Lake Victoria, because we wanted We hope that our research provides relatives, but…whatever you get you share address the social norm of accepted use Senior Research Fellow, University of Basel seeking medical services. the opportunity to compare attitudes and insights into the importance of incorpo- with others. of bribery in the provision of health ser- experiences. All three countries have robust rating behavioural insights into anti-cor- The imperatives of helping out, and vices.

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R13.2 million in a box office previously disappointment to add spice to the quest South Africa’s romcom revolution dominated by Afrikaans films and Leon for happiness, real passion and true love. Schuster’s slapstick comedies. In fourth place was Adze Ugah’s Mrs Right Guy, Joburg as glamorous global city and how it reimagines Joburg which took in over R4 million by rehearsing The emergence and mainstreaming of the one of the genre’s standard plots. black South African romcom is also part South Africa-based Multichoice The year before, Akin Omotoso had of a broader trend in the cinema of the has put up an effective fight for directed Tell Me Sweet Something, a global south, where the appropriation of this market. Before the arrival romantic comedy set in Johannesburg’s western commercial genres is accompanied of the Covid-19 pandemic, downtown hipster hangout Maboneng. It by images of the “global city”. Multichoice was planning to was one of the few black South African Tell Me Sweet Something, Mrs Right films since 1994 to gross almost R3 mil- Guy and Happiness Is a Four-Letter Word produce 52 local movies and 29 lion. South African audiences, commenta- reimagine Johannesburg by aligning it dramas in 2020. tors concluded, had had enough of high- with an imagery of global urbanism that brow, socially engaged films and were is associated with visual and narrative turning to genre flicks. In the words of repertoires of contemporary African cin- PIER PAOLO FRASSINELLI journalist Lindiwe Sithole, “It seems that emas, such as New Nollywood comedies Professor, Communication and Media South Africans are leaning towards the in Nigeria. This challenges discourses and Studies, University of Johannesburg lighter offerings.” stereotypes of “African backwardness” and To understand their appeal, it is worth is often captured in aerial or high angle asking what these films say about the time shots of skylines made up of tall buildings, etflix went live in South Africa and place where they are set. or through images of glossy, gentrified and on 6 January 2016. The arrival glitzy urban landscapes. of the subscription-based content The end of the rainbow The 2016 romcom Mrs Right Guy streaming service was a game South Africa’s black romcoms break with came fourth at the South African box changerN for the country’s film and television the tales of racial reconciliation and the office. But there is more to this, I argue. industry, as it had been for other countries. rainbow intimacies of a prior generation By representing a globalised version of At about the same time–in 2015 and of English-language romantic comedies. Johannesburg, these films are throwing up 2016–there was another turning point for Think of White Wedding (2009), where their own contradictions. They cash in on South Africa’s film industry: the arrival of Elvis and Ayanda’s interracial wedding the aesthetic of an African global city even a new, commercially successful genre, the in Gugulethu is joined by right wing as they unavoidably continue to remind us black romantic comedy. Afrikaners ready to embrace racial diver- of the city’s social conflicts and socioeco- For the first time, the country’s black sity. Or I Now Pronounce You Black and nomic inequalities. They do this in their filmmakers were able to make an impact White (2010), where a groom and bride storylines as well as their images. at the box office–and go on to licence their transcend the conflict between their Jewish All three films repeatedly reference a films to streaming platforms. and Zulu parents—or Fanie Fourie’s Lobola more authentic version of the city as an In South Africa, Netflix signalled the disclose the exact numbers. (2013) where a couple must also overcome object of love and desire. This is evoked not turn to streaming for watching films and countries, content acquisition and produc- The 2015 romcom Tell Me Sweet their families’ cultural differences. only through the high angle shots of some television series. Despite a recent slowing of tion for online streaming is a fast-growing Something was a breakthrough. The African Most black South African rom- of Johannesburg’s most densely populated subscriber growth, Netflix has over 200 mil- industry. romcom seems a perfect fit for the stream- coms, like Catching Feelings, are set in urban areas, but also through images of lion paid subscribers worldwide. These num- And it’s not just about Netflix. South ing market. Versions of it are still being pro- Johannesburg. By contrast, Tell Me Sweet some of its newly gentrified downtown bers–and the way streaming services are Africa-based Multichoice–owner of digi- duced and made accessible via streaming Something, Mrs Right Guy and Happiness neighbourhoods and via their characters’ reshaping content production, distribution tal satellite television service DStv and platforms today. South African romcoms how they reimagine Johannesburg, the city Is a Four-Letter Word are conspicuously desire for loving, inhabiting and being part and consumption–represent the most radical online subscription video on demand ser- Mrs Right Guy (2016), Catching Feelings where most black South African romcoms “black” films. In contrast to the previous of “the city”. change in the film industry in recent years. vice Showmax – has put up an effective (2017) and Seriously Single (2020) are are set. generation of English-language romcoms, These films are not simply a celebra- On the African continent, this expan- fight for this market. Before the arrival of currently available on Netflix. They rub In 2016, the highest grossing local film they all have black directors (a sign that tion of consumerist lifestyles. They also sion has had to face the challenges of lack the Covid-19 pandemic, Multichoice was shoulders with a selection of Nollywood was Jaco Smit’s Afrikaans-language roman- the South African film industry is slowly represent the tensions and dislocations that of affordability, uneven connectivity and planning to produce 52 local movies and 29 takes on the genre, including hits like The tic drama, Vir Altyd (Forever), which made transforming). accompany the black majority’s occupation the cost of data. These keep Netflix beyond dramas in 2020. Wedding Party (2016). over R15 million (over a million USD) at Set in Johannesburg’s middle and of affluent urban spaces and its embrace of the reach of the majority of the population. The company claimed that DStv and My recent article on this genre explores local theatres. It was followed by Thabang upper-class cityscapes, they portray mostly the consumptive practices from which it According to data, in 2020 Netflix still had Showmax doubled South African users what some of these popular films reveal Moleya’s Johannesburg northern suburbs’ young, hip, affluent, good-looking, hetero- had so long been excluded. It is no surprise only 1.4 million subscribers across the con- between 2018 and 2019 and are now local- about urban middle and upper-class life- bling-saturated romcom Happiness Is a sexual black characters falling in love with they have turned out to be popular, boosted tinent. Still, in a growing number of African ly bigger than Netflix – though it did not styles and aspirations. It also considers Four-Letter Word. This made an impressive each other – with the occasional split and by the demand for streamed content.

130 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 131 MEDIA Commentary

Barbed Wire: A political history traces We are the product The documentary also reminds the how this razor-sharp technology has been Zuboff says that social media platforms viewer that social media has a more subtle We must make moral choices deployed from farms that displaced indig- exploit our emotions and pre-cognate and powerful influence on our lives – shap- enous peoples to the trenches of World needs like belonging, recognition, accep- ing our social and political realities. about how we relate to War I and the prisons of contemporary tance and pleasure that are ‘hard wired’ democracies. into us to secure our survival. Fake news and hate speech Technology is in a constant psycho- Recognition relates to two of the pri- The documentary uses an example from social media apps logical, political and economic tug-of- mary functions of the brain, avoiding 2017 in which Facebook use is linked to Social media platforms exploit our emotions and pre-cognate war with humanity. Yet, some of today’s danger and finding ways to meet our violence that led to the displacement of technologies are much more subtle than basic survival needs (such as food or a close to 700,000 Rohingya persons in needs like belonging, recognition, acceptance and pleasure barbed wire. They are deeply integrated mate to perpetuate our gene pool). These Myanmar. Something that doesn’t really that are ‘hard wired’ into us to secure our survival. into our lives – they know us better than corporations, she says, are hiring the exist (a social media platform) violently we know ourselves. smartest engineers, social psychologists, changed something that does exist (the how dominant and largely unregulated I have thousands of ‘friends’ on social behavioural economists and artists to hold safety of people). DION FORSTER social media companies manipulate users media – far too many to relate to meaning- our attention, while interspersing adverts Facebook was a primary means of Head of Department, Systematic Theology by harvesting personal data, while using fully. Yet, at times I can be more present to between our videos, photos and status communication in Myanmar. New phones and Ecclesiology, Stellenbosch University algorithms to push information and ads people that I have never met than I am to updates. They make money by offering a came with Facebook pre-installed. What that can lead to social media addiction my family. This is not by chance – social future that their advertisers will sell you. users were unaware of was a ‘third person’ – and dangerous anti-social behaviour. media platforms are designed to seek Or, as former Google and Facebook – Facebook’s algorithms – feeding infor- ecently a South African radio Among others, the show makes an exam- and hold our attention. They are busi- employee Justin Rosenstein, says in The mation that included hate speech and fake show asked, “If you had to choose ple of the conspiracy theory QAnon, which nesses, intent on making money. Harvard Social Dilemma: Our attention is the prod- news into their conversations. In Africa, between your mobile phone and is increasingly targeting Africans. University professor Shoshana Zuboff, uct being sold to advertisers. similar reports have emerged from South your pet, which would choose?” who features in the documentary, explains If our adult brains are so susceptible Sudan and Zimbabwe. ThinkR about that for a moment. Many Support journalism that you can in The Age of Surveillance Capitalism that to this kind of manipulation, what effects Another example used is the Cambridge callers responded they would choose their trust social media “trades exclusively in human are they having on the developing minds Analytica scandal, which also played out in phone. I was shocked… But to be honest, Despite its flaws, the doccie got me won- futures”. of children? Africa, most notably in Nigeria and Kenya. I give more attention to my phone than to dering what our relationship should be Facebook user information was mined my beloved dogs! to social media? As an ethics professor, and sold to nefarious political actors. This Throughout history there have been I’ve come to realise that we must make Average monthly hours per mobile app user by age information (like what people feared and discoveries that have changed society in moral choices about how we relate to our what upset them) was used to spread mis- unimaginable ways. Written language technologies. This requires an honest eval- information and manipulate their voting made it possible to communicate over uation of our needs and weaknesses, and decisions on important elections. space and time. The printing press, say his- a clear understanding of the intentions of torians, helped shape societies through the these platforms. What to do about it? mass dissemination of ideas. New modes So, what do we do? We can’t very well of transport radically transformed social Tug-of-war with technology give up on social media completely, and I norms by bringing people into contact Yuval Noah Harari, author of Sapiens, don’t think it is necessary. These technol- with new cultures. contends it’s our ability to inhabit “fiction” ogies are already deeply intertwined with Yet these pale in comparison to how that differentiates humans. He claims you our daily lives. We cannot deny they have the internet is shaping, and misshaping, “could never convince a monkey to give some value. our individual and social identities. I you a banana by promising him limitless However, just like humans had to

remember the first time I heard a teenager bananas after death in monkey heaven”. monthly hours per user Average adapt to the responsible use of the printing speaking with an American accent and Humans have a capacity to believe in press or long-distance travel, we will need discovered she’d never been out of South things we cannot see – which changes to be more intentional about how we relate Africa but picked up her accent from things that do exist. Ideas like prejudice Source : Business of Apps to these new technologies. We can begin by watching YouTube. We shape our technolo- and hatred, for example, are powerful cultivating healthier social media habits. gies, but they also shape us. enough to cause wars that displace thou- We should also develop a greater The potentially negative impacts of sands. awareness of the aims of these companies social media have again been highlight- The wall between Israel and Palestine Technology is in a constant psychological, political and and how they achieve them, while under- ed by The Social Dilemma on Netflix. was conceived in people’s minds before economic tug-of-war with humanity. Yet, some of today’s standing how our information is being The documentary, which Facebook has being transformed into bricks and barbed technologies are much more subtle than barbed wire used. This will allow us to make some slammed as sensational and unfair, shows wire. Philosopher Oliver Razac’s book simple commitments that align our social media usage to our better values.

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contaminated blood or blood products and Testing new treatments Therefore, it is important to cata- surgical procedures. Our study examined a large cohort of logue all possible diverse strains of the Infection with this virus can lead to people born in 32 African countries but virus and determine whether they respond severe disease of the liver. Annually, there living in the UK, who were infected with to direct-acting antivirals treatment. The are about 400,000 deaths resulting from strains of the hepatitis C virus found in main problem with hepatitis C virus diver- the effects of infection. If the body fails their country of birth. sity is that some strains can have natural to naturally clear the virus within a few Most of this group had received resistance to treatment. Since confirming weeks of initial infection, then it can direct-acting antivirals to treat their infec- successful treatment of infection is an remain in the liver for decades. This may tion. So we were able to combine an added burden for low-income countries, gradually lead to cirrhosis or liver can- analysis of the genetic diversity of the it is crucial that the most appropriate cer. In addition, those carrying the virus hepatitis C virus strains with which they direct-acting antivirals combinations are are often stigmatised, which may prevent were infected and whether treatment had used in settings where potentially resistant people from coming forward for testing or been successful. strains may circulate. treatment. There’s no vaccine available to prevent infection. For more than 20 years, the only available treatment for infection relied on weekly injections of interferon combined with an oral drug called ribavirin. But this treatment was only successful in curing between 40% and 65% of those who were infected. And it frequently led to adverse side effects (such as fatigue, nausea and depression) that could continue after treat- ment stopped. Within the past few years, a new series of drugs called direct-acting antivirals have been developed, which give a much higher rate of curing infection (exceeding The hepatitis C virus has evolved in different human populations for hundreds 90%). These drugs only need to be taken or even thousands of years. Over time the virus has become extremely orally, and have very few side effects. They genetically diverse. But the number of strains is limited in high-income also require a relatively short course of countries where the new drugs are in use and known to be effective. treatment for 12 weeks – compared to as long as 48 weeks for interferon-based therapy. Overall, we showed that direct-act- Improving treatment in Africa The hepatitis C virus has evolved in ing antivirals were very effective against Our study shows that more potent different human populations for hundreds almost all the hepatitis C virus strains direct-acting antiviral drugs would work or even thousands of years. Over time the found across Africa. There were two strains successfully in countries where numer- virus has become extremely genetically that did not respond well to some treat- ous different strains are found, including diverse. But the number of strains is limit- ment combinations. But re-treating people those with strains that are resistant to ed in high-income countries where the new with a different set of direct-acting antivi- some of the less potent direct-acting anti- JOHN MCLAUCHLAN drugs are in use and known to be effective. rals led to successful cure in most cases. virals combinations. New drugs work against the Professor of Viral Hepatitis, University of The question we sought to answer in This study is important because Hence our study feeds into the infor- Glasgow our recent research was whether direct-act- low-income countries face numerous chal- mation needed to select the best suite of many strains of hepatitis C ing antivirals would be effective in areas lenges with hepatitis C virus infection. drugs for curing hepatitis C in low-income where many more strains are found, which In Africa, more than 10 million people environments. round the world, 71 million people are primarily low-income countries. Our are infected with the virus. Most countries Moreover, since the World Health found in African countries have been infected with the hepatitis findings show that these drugs would have a limited infrastructure to diagnose Organisation has mandated the global C virus. The primary route of infec- indeed be effective against most strains. infection, treat those who are infected and elimination of hepatitis C by 2030, our In Africa, more than 10 million people are infected with the virus. Most tion is through direct contact with This information is invaluable to countries confirm that treatment has been success- study contributes to that goal by con- countries have a limited infrastructure to diagnose infection, treat those Aanother person’s blood. This means the virus with scarce treatment resources. More ful. In addition, the cost of direct-acting firming the crucial role that direct-acting who are infected and confirm that treatment has been successful. can be transmitted in a number of ways, effective use of such resources ultimately antivirals places an economic burden on antivirals will play. including intravenous drug use, tattooing, will save more lives. many countries.

134 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 135 COVID-19 Opinion Covid in India: the deep-rooted issues behind the devastating crisis

India is an inherently high-risk The nation remains starved of the country for an epidemic. The country resources needed for a robust, resilient and holds 1.4 billion people, living well-equipped health system. in crowded areas with extensive What money is spent goes into an community networks and limited expensive hospital-based system predomi- nantly delivered through the private sector. facilities for sanitation, isolation Most people do not have insurance and and healthcare. pay for care out of their own pockets. This can lead to unnecessary costs and delays in seeking care or getting tested, which VAGEESH JAIN is critical to controlling epidemics in the NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Public early stages. Health Medicine, UCL No incentive to prevent disease Private institutions operating in this way ndia finds itself in the throes of a rely on people becoming unwell to gen- humanitarian disaster. Until March erate revenue. There is no incentive to 2021, case numbers were low in most prevent disease. parts of the country, leading many to A largely commercialised and profit-driv- thinkI that the worst was over. Much like en system centred on treating disease has in Brazil though, jingoism, overconfidence skewed investment away from essential and false reassurance from the political public health functions. It is this mar- elite negated hard-won progress. ket failure that is in part responsible Mass gatherings have acted as for India’s ailments, and many avoidable state-sanctioned super-spreader events. deaths during this epidemic. More infectious variants and a sluggish Despite a recent expansion of primary uptake of vaccines are also fuelling the cur- care centres and a large health insur- rent surge. These are the triggers, but there ance scheme for the poor, infrastructure are more deep-rooted issues at the heart of remains poorly aligned with need. As a the current crisis. result, capacities for infectious disease India is an inherently high-risk country control like surveillance, testing, contact A view inside a temporary Covid care centre built up in Chennai Trade Center in Chennai, India. for an epidemic. The country holds 1.4 lung and heart disease. A whopping 17.8% Obesity is also a growing concern tracing, guidance and research were limit- billion people, living in crowded areas with ber of cases. The idea is that poor hygiene around because the health system was over- of all deaths in India were due to pollution in India, with high rates in urban areas ed at the start of the pandemic. extensive community networks and lim- trains people’s immune defences, so when whelmed. Supplies of oxygen, ventilators, in 2019, and Delhi, currently flooded with where Covid outbreaks have been most Efforts to prevent and control chron- ited facilities for sanitation, isolation and people are exposed to the coronavirus, their health workers and beds are critically low Covid patients seeking oxygen, is the most concentrated. The prevalence of diabetes ic diseases have also been traditionally healthcare. bodies are well-equipped to deal with it. in hotspots like Delhi. But the fact that so polluted capital in the world. in those aged 50-69 years is over 30%, neglected despite their escalating burden Most do not have the luxury of isolating But this theory largely relied on pop- many require medical care in the first place, much higher than in other Asian countries. and early onset in the Indian population. at home for prolonged periods. Over 90% ulation studies that failed to account for is a symptom of longstanding structural One in five women of reproductive age has India is a high-risk setting for an epi- of workers are self-employed with no social various factors involved in disease severity deficiencies in the Indian health system. Complacency gave the undiagnosed high blood pressure. demic, but the current situation was not safety net. The vast majority rely on daily at an individual level. Even with higher Age is the single biggest risk factor for coronavirus an opportunity All of these are significant risk factors inevitable. As more are infected, the pool earnings to put food on the table. Many quality research, correlation does not imply severe disease and death with Covid. India to spread. Unlike in the first for death from Covid. Having an unhealthy of susceptible people will shrink, the virus predicted that because of all of this, the causation, especially with the threat of has an exceptionally young population, population also leads to excess deaths will relent, and the country will rebuild. initial wave of COVID in 2020 would have new variants on the horizon. And yet this with only 6% aged 65 and over. Even with wave though, proportionally because non-Covid health services are sus- There will be a chance to reflect on the a devastating impact. theory settled comfortably into the national a slightly more deadly virus, one would more cases have progressed pended during such emergencies. fundamental goals of the health system. The fact that it did not led some to psyche of a traditionally patriotic country. expect most to recover at home without into deaths this time around Despite these health needs, total health For future epidemics, bolstering hos- believe that the Indian population was Complacency gave the coronavirus the need for hospital care. But a relatively expenditure in India represents only 3.9% pital capacity will be necessary but not innately less vulnerable to Covid. An old an opportunity to spread. Unlike in the unhealthy middle-aged population in part because the health system of GDP, well below the 5% minimum sufficient. Death must be averted not just theory, the hygiene hypothesis, was dusted first wave though, proportionally more offsets this advantage. was overwhelmed. recommended to achieve universal health by treating disease, but by preventing it off in an attempt to explain the low num- cases have progressed into deaths this time Air pollution is closely associated with coverage. altogether.

136 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 137 MEDICINE Opinion

The intent behind the push for the While opening up the possibility of waiver is of course well intended production via the waiver may be a start, US-backed vaccine it is not a guarantee that enough manufac- – to remove any bottlenecks due turers will be found to take up production. to intellectual property protections This type of technology transfer may be patent waiver: Pros and ramp up the production and best achieved via voluntary licences–in distribution of these vaccines in the which originators provide manufactur- and cons explained rest of the world. ers with the know-how to produce their vaccines–as has already been done by AstraZeneca.

FARASAT BOKHARI Future complications Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in One might then ask, where is the harm Economics, University of East Anglia in trying even if this does not work? The trouble is in maintaining incentives for the future. After all, the reason we created he Biden administration has now patent protections in the first place is to agreed to back a proposal to suspend provide incentives via short-term monop- intellectual property protection for oly profits so that firms and individuals Covid vaccines. This is a break from can invest in innovation. The monopoly UST government’s long-held position on strong creates inefficiencies, which we tolerate in intellectual property protection, which has Vaccines are priced far more reasonably even if all exchange for technical progress. also been supported by many research-inten- countries do not pay the same price for them. So even If intellectual property protection is sive countries in western Europe as well and if companies like Pfizer are making profits, would waived in the face of a public emergency, the pharmaceutical industry. even as a one-off, will firms invest next These protections are codified in the removing the IP protection increase production and time there is a similar emergency? The World Trade Organization’s Trade-Related distribution in the developing world? fact that Pfizer reaped millions in profits Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights is beside the point. (TRIPS) agreements. India, South Africa, What is more relevant is how much and many other emerging economies have are vaccinated, but these percentages are ably even if all countries do not pay the more we benefited from the vaccines been pushing for a waiver from patent pro- woefully much lower in many developing same price for them. So even if compa- through saving lives, reducing suffering, tection, and have been supported in this effort economies with India at 9.4% and all of nies like Pfizer are making profits, would and opening up the economy (when we by the director general of the WHO, Tedros Asia and Africa at 4.4% and below 1% removing the IP protection increase pro- eventually do). Adhanom Ghebreyesus. respectively. duction and distribution in the developing Setting aside intellectual property pro- While the waiver cannot be put into The intent behind the push for the world? tection can be a dangerous precedent, place until other WHO members agree (at waiver is of course well intended – to particularly if it may not work. which point manufacturers can presumably remove any bottlenecks due to intellectual Immediate relief So, what can be done to alleviate the start production without any licensing agree- property protections and ramp up the pro- If IP protection is waived, perhaps some production problem globally? Voluntary ments), more and more countries that were duction and distribution of these vaccines immediate relief in terms of production licenses are a start. Along the same lines, previously opposed to the deal, including in the rest of the world. and distribution could follow if more the US could just buy the patents from France and New Zealand, are also now indi- The question remains as to whether manufacturers in emerging economies can the current manufacturers outright based cating their support. It could be a matter of the bottlenecks in Covid vaccine produc- join in and allocate resources to vaccine on their discounted future value, and then time before the proposal goes into effect. tion are due to intellectual property pro- production immediately. make them available to manufacturers So, what are the pros and cons of this tection. Typically, we think of patent pro- However, in addition to waiving legal world over. waiver and what are the alternatives? tection leading to high prices and reduced protections, manufacturers in emerging These purchases could be done not The primary concern remains that while output as monopolies tend to set prices economies need to be supported with the just for the patents, but also for providing the Covid-19 vaccines now thankfully exist, well above the marginal cost of production technology to actually produce the vac- assistance for technology transfer. This their distribution across the world is not even, to maximise profits. cines. This may be particularly true of the would maintain incentives for research, despite the existence of the COVAX network: But high prices do not seem to be the newer mRNA vaccines such as those from development and innovation, and at the a global effort to share vaccines between problem here. This is not the same situ- Pfizer and Moderna, which are difficult same time protect populations around the countries. ation as the $750 dollar pill, Daraprim, to manufacture, but may equally apply to world and in the US from the rise of vari- At the time of writing, 44% of the US bought by “pharma bro” Martin Shrekeli. adenovirus vaccines such as the one pro- ants that may be able to evade the vaccines population and 51% of the UK population Vaccines are priced far more reason- duced by AstraZeneca. we have.

138 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 139 VACCINES Opinion Covid vaccines: why waiving patents won’t fix global shortage – scientist explains South Africa and India have petitioned the World Trade Organization (WTO) to waive certain IP protections, for a limited time, that relate to products for preventing, containing or treating Covid-19.

ing the IP rights of the companies that One obstacle to increasing production is ANNE MOORE developed them. the supply of raw materials needed to make Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry and Cell Various NGOs, former heads of state and deploy these vaccines. The almost Biology, University College Cork and Nobel laureates have declared their instantaneous tripling of demand for spe- support. It’s claimed that waiving IP agree- cialised materials is placing huge pressure ments “would expand global manufactur- on many pharmaceutical and medical sup- ovid-19 vaccines are key to ending ing capacity”, allowing production to ramp ply chains. This needs to be fixed, not just the pandemic. From a humani- up “unhindered by industry monopolies to help with the production of authorised tarian, moral and pragmatic per- that are driving the dire supply shortages Covid-19 vaccines, but also to ensure we spective, the countries must unite blocking vaccine access”. don’t delay testing and approving vaccines toC ensure fair and rapid access to these The WTO petition references sugges- still in development. vaccines, worldwide. As political and health tions that IP rights have limited the avail- leaders have stressed: no one is safe until ability of personal protective equipment Empty glass vaccine vials we are all safe. and the production of ventilators during Second, transferring the manufacturing But satisfying this need is complicated. the pandemic. However, little (if any) evi- process from one facility to another always Before the pandemic, the global demand for dence has been presented that suggests IP takes significant resources, as staff at the all vaccines was around 5.5 billion doses protection is blocking Covid-19 vaccine new site need to be trained in every aspect a year. We now need at least three times manufacture. of production and quality assurance. On this for Covid-19 alone, with continued Rather, technical and logistic issues are top of this, skills are also required in the high-scale production likely to be needed the biggest barriers currently standing in clinical, legal, commercial and regulatory in subsequent years. the way of increasing vaccine production aspects. Expanding production capacity Such a fast increase in vaccine pro- and deployment. To boost vaccine availabil- is thus not instantaneous, and certainly countries manufacturing vaccines in the clear which organisation owns what tech- the exclusive rights to a product, it’s less duction is unprecedented and expected ity right now, it would be better to address wouldn’t immediately happen just because long term, compared to waiving IP rights. nology, meaning companies don’t have to clear if developing it will lead to a return obstacles need to be addressed. One par- these. IP protection has been waived. Indeed, past efforts to increase worldwide worry about their ideas being taken when on investment. ticular idea gaining traction is that vaccine Nevertheless, this technology transfer manufacturing capacity and access for collaborating. This may put companies off working production is being limited by patents and continues, with several Covid-19 vaccine other medicines, such as those for drug-re- Plus, for academics who aim to trans- on vaccines. The vaccine space has only other intellectual property (IP) rights – manufacturers transferring their technol- sistant tuberculosis, have taken this sort of late their research into having real-world recently grown from being a very narrow legal mechanisms that allow organisations One obstacle to increasing ogy, under licence, to sub-contractors. An broader approach and not focused solely impact, there are few options other than field, comprising just a few companies at to stop others (for a limited period) from production is the supply example is the licensing of the AstraZeneca on IP. to license their innovations to commer- the start of the century, so the threat of making, using or selling their inventions vaccine to the Serum Institute of India. To Likewise, if we are serious about cial entities who have the expertise and losing developers is real. without their permission – and that these of raw materials needed get manufacturing going, the institute dedi- improving access to Covid-19 vaccines, resources to bring the research into clin- We need to have as many competitors should be waived. This, however, should not to make and deploy these cated 1,000 staff to the project. other issues need to be addressed. Pricing, ical use. in the field as possible to sustain diverse be a major priority. vaccines. The almost This raises a further point, which is as well as allocation and deployment mech- The Covid-19 vaccine partnership academic-commercial partnerships. This that for technology transfer to work, coun- anisms, such as Covax, must be optimised between the University of Oxford and diversity has already helped create a range Not the main barrier instantaneous tripling of tries must have specialised facilities and to allow equitable vaccine deployment. AstraZeneca is a successful example of of Covid-19 vaccines. South Africa and India have petitioned demand for specialised a skilled workforce capable of making this inter-dependency. Current IP regulations are not per- the World Trade Organization (WTO) to materials is placing vaccines. They also need robust regulatory IP remains useful Such transactional agreements (and fect, and this IP waiver discussion rightly waive certain IP protections, for a limited authorities to audit and approve the safety Love it or loathe it, IP also plays a central so developing health innovations from forces an examination of current systems. time, that relate to products for preventing, huge pressure on many of what’s produced. role in getting vaccines developed. academic research) rely on IP and being However, waiving IP is unlikely to be containing or treating Covid-19. This would pharmaceutical and Advocating for current and long-term Given the emergency we’re in, com- able to give commercial partners exclu- a short-term solution to rapid vaccine allow countries to produce Covid-related medical supply chains commitments to increasing these skills panies that are normally competitors are sive access to knowledge. Enacting an IP manufacture and deployment and could products, such as vaccines, for themselves, around the world could be a more suc- working together to produce vaccines. waiver risks bringing levels of uncertainty lead to long-term obstacles for vaccine without fear of being punished for infring- cessful way of increasing the number of Here, IP can facilitate cooperation; it’s across the vaccine field because, without development.

140 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 141 SCIENCE Society

Commercially available concentrators Medical oxygen should not be a exist now, but they are expensive and dif- ficult to produce in developing countries. luxury – we’re trying to develop This is why scientists like me are look- ing for solutions. My team studies new types of materials that store and separate a cheaper way to produce it gases, some of which provide potentially affordable solutions for devices such as Oxygen is mostly obtained from liquefied air. Engineers turn the air we oxygen concentrators. We develop two breathe into a liquid, using a combination of processes that cool down main types of materials–zeolites (crystals gases until they condensate. of silicon, aluminium and oxygen) and metal-organic frameworks (usually called DAVID FAIREN-JIMENEZ Bottlenecks panies. Using bottles also adds another MOFs). Both are highly porous materials; Oxygen is mostly obtained from liquefied layer of safety concern, as handling them you can imagine them as miniature, mole- Reader in Molecular Engineering, University air. Engineers turn the air we breathe into correctly requires several precautionary cule-sized sponges. of Cambridge a liquid, using a combination of processes measures and proper training. Developing Like sponges, these porous materials that cool down gases until they conden- countries therefore lack both the infrastruc- adsorb more fluids than you’d intuitively eople might once have considered sate. Once they’ve managed to liquefy the ture required to produce liquid oxygen and imagine. Although the millions of pores distributed in nitrogen atoms, meaning it oxygen a human right. But the mix, they use distillation–the same process that to easily and cheaply transport it to a inside zeolites and MOFs may seem tiny, interacts more strongly with the zeolite’s But the oxygen bottle pandemic has revealed that access used to make whisky and gin–to separate hospital. their total surface area is monumental. In electric field. Oxygen and argon are not. to oxygen–in a pure form, for med- air into its different components, oxygen fact, one gram of certain record-breaking The nitrogen therefore stays trapped market is cornered by Pical use–is a luxury in most low and mid- among them. Out of thin air MOFs features a surface area of over 7,000 inside the millions of tiny pores, and only a handful of chemical dle-income countries. This process requires enormous Another way of “making” oxygen is using square metres. we empty them later after storing our companies. Using bottles Getting access to pure oxygen for med- amounts of energy and huge industrial concentrators, devices that selectively Tiny amounts of zeolites and MOFs oxygen. ical treatments is a complicated, expen- facilities, so it’s limited to just a few areas remove nitrogen – the gas that makes up can store huge amounts of fluids, often Usually, we commercialise our porous also adds another layer of sive and often very dangerous business. in the world, most of them in the global 78% of our atmosphere – using a series of gases, and they have been used in gas materials through Immaterial, a spin- safety concern, as handling The current situation in India is a harsh north. Liquid oxygen must be stored and membranes, porous materials and filters. storage, purification, carbon capture and out of the University of Cambridge. Yet, them correctly requires reminder of this issue. The second wave transported under great pressure, creating These started being produced in mid-70s, water-harvesting. making huge profits selling oxygen in of Covid-19 has hit the country hard; the serious logistical issues and safety concerns and the technology is very well established. Some of my team, partnering with a pandemic seemed immoral. In Africa, several precautionary total number of deaths has just passed the – oxygen is really explosive. These devices turn air into a stream of the engineering company Cambridge for example, oxygen is five times more measures and proper 200,000 mark. Oxygen is in short supply. This means the main bottleneck of oxygen-enriched gas, typically above 95% Precision, and the Centre for Global expensive than in Europe and the US. training Because of the current emergency, oxygen production is, precisely, bottles. The (the rest is formed of mostly argon). This Equality, have started looking into wheth- Our team and Immaterial therefore Indian citizens have turned to the black US relies on heavy-duty pipes to transport is usually good enough for respirators and er they can be used to store oxygen. We’ve partnered up with other scientists in market to purchase oxygen way above its pressurised oxygen. In Europe, transport ventilators. The benefit of a concentrator developed an initial prototype that works. Cambridge to create the Oxygen and regular price. is mainly through liquid oxygen carried is it can be produced as a small device We hope to have a final prototype in place Ventilator System Initiative, OVSI, with This has happened partly due to the in big tanks. For lower-income countries, to be used in hospitals or care homes. in two months’ time, and after this we will the aim of advancing and manufacturing way oxygen is produced, stored and trans- distribution is done in bottles. need to seek medical approval. affordable oxygen treatments. ported around the world. That’s why scien- But the oxygen bottle market is cor- We hope the advantages of a cheap tists like me are working to find a cheaper nered by only a handful of chemical com- The process oxygen concentrator device will outlive alternative. The principle is quite simple. We have an the pandemic. Oxygen supply is key to aluminium cylinder full of porous mate- treat childhood pneumonia and chronic rials and we circulate a stream of air pulmonary diseases–both conditions that through it. This purifies the oxygen up globally kill more people than AIDS or to 95%–with the remaining being mostly malaria. Everyone should have access to argon. Nitrogen is trapped in the zeolite oxygen, and technology like ours could because of the way the electric charge is one day help provide that access.

142 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 143 HEALTH Research

reported that obesity increased the risk of tion per BMI unit for those aged 20-39 is Covid-related death substantially. People 9%; for those aged 40-59, 8%; for 60-79 with the highest BMI (over 40) were at years, 4%; and 1% for people aged 80-99 92% higher risk of dying from Covid years. The increase in the risk of death per compared with people with a healthy BMI unit for those aged 20-39 is 17%; for BMI (18.5-25). But most people are not those aged 40-59, 13%; for 60-79 years, this overweight. Many people have been 3%; and 0% for people aged 80-99 years. inactive during the lockdowns and may Younger people generally experienced have gained a bit of extra weight, so could much less severe Covid and were less likely that excess weight also increase the risk of to die compared with older people. Still, a developing severe Covid? Our latest study younger person with a BMI of 30 would looked at just that. have a much higher risk of severe Covid Using the anonymous health records than their healthy weight peers. from almost 7 million people aged 20-99 The risks associated with higher BMI years in England, we explored the risk of were greater for black people compared severe Covid across the full BMI range. with white people. The increase in the Of the 6,910,695 people who had their risk of hospitalisation per BMI unit for weight recorded, 13,503 were admitted black people was 7% compared with 4% to hospital with Covid, 1,602 needed for white people. And the increase in the treatment in an ICU, and 5,479 died of risk of death for black people was 8% Covid during the first wave in the UK versus 4% for white people. There was no (January-May 2020). Most of these people evidence that the risks for other ethnic were aged over 60 (72% of hospital admis- groups differed from those of the white sions, 56% of ICU admissions and 93% of populations. deaths).

Risk starts to increase at high-end of Early studies reported that healthy weight many more people who We found that the lowest risk was found were overweight or obese among those with a BMI of 23, at which point the risk increased linearly, around were admitted to an ICU 5% higher risk of hospital admission, 10% and needed mechanical higher risk of ICU admission, and 4% of ventilation than people Ethnicity, sex and obesity were also death per each unit increase in BMI. Severe Covid in young people can mostly found to be risk factors for severe Covid who were not overweight outcomes. But, of course, we can’t do any- The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology or obese be explained by obesity – new study thing about our age, sex or ethnicity. We Our analysis took into account several can do something about being overweight, factors that might influence risk, such as though. age, sex, ethnicity and existing health con- Many good reasons to lose weight NERYS M ASTBURY rom the start of the pandemic, it was A study published last Body mass index (BMI) is a measure ditions, including type 2 diabetes. People Although we couldn’t look to see if losing Senior Researcher, Diet and Obesity, clear that some people who were infect- applying height and weight to calculate a with a BMI under 23, which includes weight could reduce these risks in this ed with the coronavirus were expe- year in Nature reported weight score. A person with a BMI over 25 people who are underweight (BMI below study, it is plausible that shedding excess University of Oxford riencing more severe illness, which that obesity increased is considered to be overweight, and over 18.5) were also at risk of Covid-related weight could help reduce the risk of devel- Fincreased their chances of being hospitalised, the risk of Covid-related 30 is considered to be obese. hospital admission and death. This could oping severe Covid. And, of course, losing CARMEN PIERNAS admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) or death substantially. Early studies reported that many more be linked to frailty associated with having weight has other health benefits too. University Research Lecturer, Nutrition, dying. People with the highest people who were overweight or obese were a low body weight. But losing weight is hard. We need As we age, a weaker immune system and admitted to an ICU and needed mechani- Notably, the effect of excess weight on more support systems to help people lose University of Oxford BMI (over 40) were at chronic health conditions could influence the cal ventilation than people who were not the risk of severe Covid was greatest in weight. This could help reduce the severity way our body responds to the virus. Indeed, 92% higher risk of dying overweight or obese. Indeed, even Prime young people aged 20 to 39 years of age, of Covid at a population level, which may MIN GAO age is the biggest risk factor for developing from Covid compared Minister Boris Johnson attributed the and decreased after age 60. Excess weight help reduce the burden on healthcare PhD Candidate, Non-communicable Chronic severe Covid or dying from it. Over 70% of with people with a severity of his own Covid infection to the had very little effect on the risk of severe systems, while also reducing the risks for Disease, University of Oxford deaths attributed to Covid in the UK are in healthy BMI (18.5-25). fact he was “way overweight” at the time. Covid in people aged over 80 years. heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some those aged 75 years and over. A study published last year in Nature The increase in the risk of hospitalisa- cancers.

144 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 145 EPIDEMIC Beyond Business Will coronavirus really evolve to become less deadly?

There is little or no direct evidence that virulence decreases over time. While newly emerged pathogens, such as HIV and Mers, are often highly virulent, the converse is not true.

ED FEIL But perhaps this is a single exception Professor of Microbial Evolution at The Milner to an otherwise well-observed rule, and Centre for Evolution, University of Bath we can still be confident that SARS-CoV-2 will slowly fade away to obscurity. So, what is the evidence for this view? And how CHRISTIAN YATES confident can we be in predicting how evo- Senior Lecturer in Mathematical Biology, lution will shape the relationship between a University of Bath pathogen and its host?

Law of declining virulence recent modelling study painted a It was the bacteriologist and comparative reassuring picture of a post-pan- pathologist Theobald Smith (1859-1934) demic future in which SARS-CoV-2 who began the narrative of the “law of transitions, over “a few years to a declining virulence” in the late 19th century. Afew decades”, from dangerous pathogen Studying tick-borne disease of cattle to just another common-cold coronavirus. during the 1880s, Smith realised that the This predicted loss of virulence, the authors severity of the disease was determined by stress, is based on a specific idiosyncrasy the degree of prior infection. Cattle that had of the virus, namely that it rarely causes been repeatedly exposed to the pathogen serious disease in children. suffered from much more moderate disease Still, many experts agreed that we than cattle encountering it for the first time. should not be in the least surprised by the Smith reasoned that this was because host authors’ conclusion, as all viruses “become and pathogen conspired over time towards more transmissible and less pathogenic a mutually benign relationship. over time”. After all, the seductive logic The story then takes a distinctly antipo- goes, from an evolutionary perspective it makes no sense for a pathogen to harm the host on which it depends for its survival. According to this reasoning, virulence is Although the evidence is still little more than a temporary evolutionary accruing, early estimates from imbalance. Nervtag, the UK’s New and Emerging dean turn. In 1859, the year Charles Darwin By the 1950s, the myxoma virus was A challenge to the law of declining ease. By the late 1970s, May and Anderson This comfortable chain of reasoning Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory published his Big Idea, European rabbits spreading rapidly among the rabbit pop- virulence had developed the “trade-off” model for the was rudely broken by the announcement of Group, suggest that B117 may were introduced to Australia for sport, with ulation. Recognising the opportunities At around the same time, a talented young evolution of virulence – the first conceptu- “a realistic possibility” that the new highly be around 30% more deadly. But devastating consequences for the indige- provided by this unique experiment, the Australian mathematician named Robert al framework in 100 years to challenge the transmissible B117 variant “is associated perhaps this is a single exception nous flora and fauna. Having turned down virologist Frank Fenner documented how May came across the work of his compa- Smith’s general law of declining virulence. with an increased risk of death”. Louis Pasteur’s offer of mass délapinsation the virulence of the disease decreased over triot Charles Birch, an eminent ecologist The trade-off model recognises that Although the evidence is still accruing, to an otherwise well-observed rule, using fowl cholera as a biological con- a few years from 99.5% mortality to about working on the regulation of animal pop- pathogen virulence will not necessarily early estimates from Nervtag, the UK’s New and we can still be confident that trol agent, the Department of Agriculture 90%. This was taken as strong empirical ulations. Together with epidemiologist Roy limit the ease by which a pathogen can and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats SARS-CoV-2 will slowly fade away to turned to the myxoma virus that causes the evidence in support of Smith’s law of Anderson, May went on to pioneer the transmit from one host to another. It might Advisory Group, suggest that B117 may be obscurity. lethal, but highly species-specific disease, declining virulence – and occasionally application of mathematical modelling to even enhance it. Without the assumed around 30% more deadly. myxomatosis in rabbits. still is. the ecology and evolution of infectious dis- evolutionary cost to virulence, there

146 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 147 EPIDEMIC Beyond Business

spread, long before it kills its current MY AMIU EXPERIENCE host. The trade-off model is now wide- ly accepted. It emphasises that each host-pathogen combination must be considered individually. There is no I speak for the entire class of 2019 general evolutionary law for pre- when I say that our experience at dicting how these relationships will pan out, and certainly no justifica- AMIU was an unforgettable one. tion for evoking the inevitability of We will remember the serene decreased virulence. learning environment, the flexible There is little or no direct evi- (and blended) study mode and dence that virulence decreases over essential learning resources, GlobalGlobal outbreaks outbreaks in the in 21st the cen 21st tury century time. While newly emerged patho- including well-equipped skills lab and competency-based Death tolls and caseload estimates compared Death tolls and caseload estimates compared gens, such as HIV and Mers, are training and assessment methodology at AMIU. often highly virulent, the converse is COVID-19 (2019-ongoing) Swine flu (2009-10) not true. There are plenty of ancient This class of 2019 will remember the relationships we 3,653,000+ cases Infections: 1,632,710 diseases, such as tuberculosis and built, the people we met and the entrepreneurial and 10,000 Deaths: 256,200+ CDC/WHO estimates: gonorrhoea, that are probably just professional training we received through practical (as of May 6) 151,700 - 575,400 as virulent today as they ever were. sessions, which sharpened our technical, research, Lab confirmed deaths: 18,449 A change in conditions can also managerial and leadership skills and prepared us for drive the trend in the other direction. Dengue fever has afflicted humans successful professional careers. since at least the 18th century, but an Walter Owate (Kenya) | Valedictorian, 2019 increasingly large and mobile human population is thought to have driven a marked increase in virulence over WHO WE ARE the last 50 years or so. Even the As an international student I felt seminal case of the rabbit-killing Amref International University (AMIU) is a premier pan African at home the moment I set foot at myxoma virus is uncertain. There university of health sciences fully owned by Amref Health Africa. AMIU, having been attracted by was little subsequent decline in vir- AMIU is founded on the experience and intellect of Amref Health the warm and compelling learning ulence after Fenner’s early reports, environment at the University. The and it may even have risen slightly. Africa, which is reputed with over 60 years of quality and innovative interactive and flexible learning MERS (2012) SARS (2002-03) public and community health interventions in over 35 countries in 2,494 8,437 Plausible but not inevitable mode has made it possible for 858 813 Africa. Of course, these counter-examples do me to progress my studies remotely during the Covid19 not in themselves present evidence AMIU’s focus is on training, research and extension in health sciences pandemic. I will be graduating in 2021. Source: WHO that the virulence of SARS-CoV-2 with emphasis on promotive, preventive, rehabilitative and palliative I relish my time at this great institution where I was granted is no reason to believe that will not decline. Declining virulence health. disease severity will decrease over is certainly plausible as one of many vast opportunities that have positively defined me: I served in the Students Council, participated in the Work Study time. Instead, May and Anderson potential outcomes under the trade- The University offers Postgraduate, Undergraduate, Higher Diploma, proposed that the optimal level of Dengue fever has afflicted off model. Programme and most notably was a beneficiary of the Vice Diploma, Certificate programmes as well as Continuing Professional virulence for any given pathogen will humans since at least the 18th Conversely, mutations might Chancellor’s scholarship fund. Development (CPD) courses that prepare human resource for health be determined by a range of factors, century, but an increasingly simultaneously heighten both viru- such as the availability of susceptible lence and transmissibility by increas- to serve throughout the health system. I have had impactful and life changing interactions that hosts, and the length of time between large and mobile human ing viral replication rate. Although have influenced and strengthened my resolve of Inspiring infection and symptom onset. population is thought to have we will have to wait for more evi- AMIU has two intakes every year, the April intake and the August Lasting Change wherever my profession leads me. This last factor is a key aspect dence to be certain – and the pre- intake. of the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2. driven a marked increase in cise mechanisms may be difficult to Tertioury Nyarugwe (Zimbabwe) | Health Systems The long time period between infec- virulence over the last 50 pin down – the emerging evidence Management & Development Final Student, 2021 tion and death (if it occurs) means years or so around the B117 variant currently that SARS-CoV-2 has a significant points more towards increased mor- window in which to replicate and tality.

amrefuniversity @amrefuniversity www.amref.ac.ke +254 741 743 871 | +254 (0) 699 3000 148 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 149 MEDICINE Last Word

Not only have several mutations affect- ED FEIL ed this protein, but identical mutations Professor of Microbial Evolution at The have cropped up independently both in Coronavirus variants: Milner Centre for Evolution, University of the variants of concern and in other viral Bath lineages. In effect, the virus has repeatedly stumbled across the same evolutionary how did they evolve and solutions to specific challenges. This phe- nomenon is known as evolutionary conver- what do they mean? hen supplies of oxygen at gence (consider the independent evolution hospitals in Manaus, Brazil, of wings in bats, birds and insects). recently ran out, the air force Understanding how these mutations Although not all the mutations are thought to be important, was called in for emergen- might affect the coronavirus’s behaviour the effect of any individual mutation might be changed by the Wcy evacuations while healthcare workers at the molecular level is difficult. Work presence of other mutations (an effect called epistasis). This frantically tried to save lives with manual to bridge the gap between each variant’s greatly complicates the problem of figuring out precisely what ventilation. For those that could not be “genotype” (the mutations) and its “phe- these mutations are doing and of assessing the risk of newly saved, there was only morphine and a final notype” (how quickly it spreads) is being emerging variants from the sequence data alone. hand-squeeze. ramped up in the UK and elsewhere, but As calamitous as the situation is for will require a sustained multidisciplinary those affected, the devastating surge in effort. Covid cases in Manaus over the last few weeks has set alarm bells ringing ever more loudly for governments and agencies Understanding how these around the world struggling to manage the mutations might affect the pandemic. Cases continue to surge in the UK and South Africa and, as in Manaus, coronavirus’s behaviour they appear to be mainly due to the emer- at the molecular level is gence of new variants of the coronavirus. difficult. Work to bridge Three variants causing concern the gap between each The naming of these “variants of concern”– variant’s “genotype” and as scientists refer to them–is somewhat its “phenotype” is being muddled. For simplicity, they are referred to here as the Brazilian, South African and ramped up in the UK and UK variant. All have emerged recently, and elsewhere all have picked up several mutations that mark a distinct shift in the evolution of the virus. Similar variants are almost certainly Constellations of mutations out there spreading under the radar. More The task is made more difficult because are likely to evolve. several mutations have accumulated in Despite arising independently on three these variants (so-called constellations). different continents, the three variants The UK variant, for example, has 23 sepa- share striking similarities. Each has picked rate mutations, representing a remarkable up several mutations over a short time, evolutionary jump with no known inter- with many in the gene providing the mediate variants (like there are “missing instructions to make the virus’s spike links” in the evolutionary chain). protein. Although not all the mutations are The spike protein is where the key thought to be important, the effect of any battles between human and virus are being individual mutation might be changed by waged, including the vaccines. It is the key the presence of other mutations (an effect to how the virus interacts with the human called epistasis). This greatly complicates body, both regarding the immune response the problem of figuring out precisely what and in binding to and entering human these mutations are doing and of assessing airway cells. the risk of newly emerging variants from the sequence data alone. 150 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 151 KWAL X BUSINESS MONTHLY BRIEF.pdf 1 6/10/2021 3:17:28 PM

MEDICINE Last Word

Despite these complexities, INDULGE IN PREMIUM a combination of computational analysis and laboratory experiments have yielded valuable evidence of EXCELLENCE the effect of these mutations. For example, one mutation found in all three variants is N501Y. The name refers to an alteration in the spike protein, where the type of amino-ac- id molecule located in position 501 has changed from asparagine (N) to tyrosine (Y). Position 501 is on the recep- tor-binding domain–part of the spike protein that attaches to a partic- ular receptor (ACE2) on cells in the human body–and this change appears to strengthen the binding between the virus and human cells. Yet for reasons that remain unclear, the effect of N501Y is greatly ampli- C fied when combined with other M mutations. Y Other mutations in the spike protein offer the virus some pro- CM tection from the immune response. MY

Examples include E484K (found in CY the Brazilian and South African vari- CMY ants, but not the UK variant), and a mutation in the UK variant in which K two amino acids are deleted (del69- 70) and which is repeatedly found in combination with mutations in the receptor-binding domain. population being infected. The Selection pressure resulting high level of immunity in Specific evolutionary challenges and A plausible explanation for the emergence the population may have given an selection pressures that favour the of the UK variant is that it arose in a single advantage to mutations in the spike survival of some variants of the chronically infected person with a weakened protein. virus over others may be driving the immune system who was being treated with Although these variants are emergence of the variants of concern. convalescent plasma (antibodies from a causing concern, we should remain This would help to explain why they recovered patient). confident that the vaccines will ulti- acquire several mutations so quickly, mately prove successful in ending or why these variants are starting to the pandemic and allow a return to emerge now. advantage to any variant that could normality. There is currently no evi- A plausible explanation for the resist the therapeutic antibodies. But dence that the vaccines are less effec- emergence of the UK variant is it remains a theory. tive against the new variants. While that it arose in a single chronically A second possibility relates to it remains impossible to be certain infected person with a weakened the emergence of the Brazilian vari- whether, or how, the virus will make immune system who was being treat- ant. The current wave of infection further evolutionary jumps when ed with convalescent plasma (anti- in Manaus is only the latest Covid confronted by the vaccines, modifica- bodies from a recovered patient). disaster to hit this city. Previous tions to vaccine design should ensure This would have given a strong waves may have led to 76% of the that we stay one step ahead. EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IS HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH. 152 BUSINESS MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2021 NOT FOR SALE TO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS. WELCOME HOME TO INCHCAPE KENYA MOTORRAD

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