By Alumni Relations Department
I am an Accountant by profession. I joined PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PWC) in 1978 to train as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). I was transferred in 1984 for an International Exchange Program with PriceWaterHouseCoopers in the UK Firm and based in their Manchester office. I had the privilege to work in many parts of the UK and handled major client assignments. In 1986, I was promoted to the position of Assistant Audit Manager in the firm. I returned back to Kenya towards the end of that year. I re-joined PriceWaterHouseCoopers Kenya office and was posted to their Mombasa office where I rose to become the Regional Manager. In 1988, I was transferred to Nairobi Office and appointed staff and planning manager responsible for the audit staff. I earned promotions every year and by 1990, I was promoted to the position of Senior Manager which was the highest staff position below partner level.

In 1993, I left to join commerce and industry and worked for major companies such as Dolphin Group, Sameer Group, East African Cables Limited, Firestone E. A Limited, Sameer Africa Limited, Kensta Group, Deacons Group. Majority of these companies had operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mauritius, South Africa. I was promoted to many ranks and held senior managerial and board positions such as: senior manager, General manager / CEO, Group Finance Director, Group CFO, Group Operations Director, Comptroller Finance, Commercial and Operations Director. I left commerce and industry in 2016.

Academically, I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Magna Cum Laude – GPA of 3.78) – class of 2000 and an MBA in Strategic Management (best student with a GPA of 3.77) – class of 2002 from USIU-Africa. In 2015, I graduated with an earned a PhD. in Business administration (specializing in Entrepreneurship and small business development) from the University of Nairobi. In 2017, I taught a Master of Science class for one semester at the University of Nairobi, standing in for one of my Doctoral thesis examiners, Professor Jackson Maluu. Since 2018, I have been an adjunct lecturer in the School of Business at KCA University and teach and undergraduate and masters students.

My hobbies include: community service - principally helping the less fortunate to pursue their education. I am keen and active environmental conservation with a focus on transformation of ASAL to productivity – to exploit their full potential particularly in employing contemporary technology in agriculture to foster agribusiness and quality life.

I joined USIU-Africa as a mature student at the age of 40 years in 1998 and completed my undergraduate degree in 2000. As much as I had graduated with a first degree, there was a new demand at the job market and in particular in commerce and industry for managers to have master’s degree. This was because the business operating environment in Kenya was becoming more dynamic and complex and especially with the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) in the country by the Brenton woods institutions the World Bank and IMF. The consequences being the opening of the Kenyan economy to global competition. Business planning was becoming a challenge because of the unpredictable and fast changes in the macro environment. I therefore felt the need to gain more knowledge in order to adequately respond to the ever-changing business environment in the country, which was adversely affecting many businesses and hence my reason for enrolling for an MBA majoring in strategic management in 2000. USIU–Africa was my choice for my MBA because of the flexi time study program – availability of evening and weekend classes which worked well for me, a good and predictable learning environment, experienced and student-centric faculty and administration staff, a blend of mature students from industry enabling the sharing of experiences, multicultural environment, focused and committed leadership and of course the best state of the art library (then Doctor Lilian Beam Library) in the region - the engine of knowledge.

When I reflect back and think of USIU -Africa, I always remember its mantra: Education to take you places. It holds true since the education that I received has had a tremendous and positive impact in my career and personal life. It gave me an extraordinary knowledge, courage and confidence that I never had. It prepared me to look at problems as challenges and gave me the bundle of knowledge to apply including critical thinking skills in resolving challenges whether at personal, group, institutional or a country level. I became a solution-oriented person. The education at USIU-Africa, took me places by way of: career and employment opportunities to work in high profile organizations, earn promotions. I have earned recognitions, respect and honor, visited diverse countries, interacted with the low and mighty, earned me admission (courtesy of my Master’s degree) to the University of Nairobi to pursue a PhD. It has and continues to take me places that I would never have been If I did not have that education. It has taken me from the corporate world to the classroom as a lecturer to share by way of giving back to society. It has given me a high profile, rewarding and fulfilling career.

I am proud that my children decided to join USIU-Africa at different times of their individual academic lives, it was their choice. But perhaps having been a student at the University, it had a tremendous impact on their choice. They used to visit me during Saturday classes and have a good time playing at the gardens and having meals at the cafeteria as they waited for my classes to finish so that I could join them to start the weekend. They enjoyed the environment very much, which should never be taken for granted for you never know its related impact to those who come into contact with it in their decision making to join USIU-Africa in years to come. USIU–Africa, was the only University they knew and had visited and was therefore not surprised by their choice of USIU-Africa.

I never vetoed their choice, I had no reason to do so. I was confident that they would be in safe hands and in addition they will get an education to take them places. I knew USIU–Africa will offer them: quality education, a good learning environment with a double accreditation, flexible timings, multicultural environment, opportunities for growth such as work study, graduate assistant opportunities, academic advisors for guidance, unrestricted electives, student support system, a holistic life, travel opportunities, extra-curricular activities and benefit from an active student council - which one of my daughters during her academic life at USIU-Africa, she served as a member, Secretary, Vice President and finally as President!