By Prudence Minayo
June Chepkemei was appointed the acting Managing Director of Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest) by Trade Cabinet Secretary, Moses Kuria. June has extensive experience in corporate communications having worked in the media industry, and also with telco giant Safaricom PLC and Konza Technopolis Development Authority.
Here is her story as told by WoK.
Education
She has an undergraduate degree in Public Relations and Communications and a diploma in professional marketing from The Chartered Institute of Marketing. The communications expert also has a Masters degree in communication and media studies from Moi University and started working on a PhD in Information Technology.
Career
After her studies, she joined the media industry and rose to become a business news anchor, a news editor, and a talk show host for both TV and radio.
In 2013, she joined Safaricom Plc as a communications business partner.
In 2015, she joined Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) in the marketing and communications department. She then rose to become the manager of marketing and corporate communications in the organization. Konza is a government project aimed at achieving the Vision 2030 economic development portfolio.
The goal is to make it a world class city that is sustainable with developed ICT system and business friendly governance systems. KoTDA is meant to ensure that Konza achieves its vision. June pioneered the Konza Innovation Ecosystem Initiative.
This is an initiative bringing together the different stakeholders within the industry to support the commercialization of research and the development of new solutions and enterprises within Konza. This initiative was recognized as the third most inspiring solution by the International Organization of Science Parks Area of Innovation.
Apart from being part of the marketing and communications department, she was also tasked with the role of being the project coordinator for a new institute of strategic National Importance Kenya Advance Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The product is being developed in collaboration of the Ministry of Education.
At KenInvest, she will be in charge of spearheading strategies to attract and grow investments in the country from Ksh62.3 billion to Ksh1.2 trillion by the end of 2023. KenInvest was founded in 2004 and promotes and facilitates domestic and foreign investment in Kenya by providing investors with a conducive environment.
Memberships
The newly elected MD is a member of Public Relations Society of Kenya, Women Chapter of the International Association of Science Parks and Area of Innovation (IASP). She is also an affiliate member of the Chattered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
June is also the founder of lelesta fashion house based in Nairobi.
