The story of Kiprono Kittony is one that best depicts the end product of focus and determination.
Despite coming from a powerful family, he never sat on his laurels but worked his way up the success ladder. From growing up in Kericho to becoming a farmer in Kitale before co-founding Radio Africa Group and now serving as the Chairman of the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).
Here is his career journey as told by WoK.
Background
Kiprono Kittony was born in 1965 in Kericho County as a second born in a family of three. His mother Zipporah Kittony served as the chairperson of Maendeleo ya Wanawake while his father Paul Kittony was a primary school teacher.
He started his education at a local primary school in Kericho before joining Lavington Primary school in 1971 after his parents relocated to Nairobi.
After 4 years in Nairobi, his parents relocated to Kitale in 1975 where he sat for the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Exams in 1977 and topped the country.
He joined Lenana School for his O-levels before proceeding to the University of Nairobi where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1988 and a law degree in 2005.
He later pursued a Global Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the United States International University (USIU) in conjunction with Columbia Business School in America.
Career Journey
Kiprono Kittony began his career as a farmer working together with his siblings on their father’s Kitale farm. His late uncle, a former Eldoret North MP Reuben Chesire influenced him to join politics.
In 1977 he vied for the Cherengany constituency parliamentary seat and failed terribly before opting to go back to farming. Kiprono was to find out that his forte was in business and the corporate world.
In a 2020 interview on the Standard, Kittony said his biggest regret was giving up on politics.
“My biggest regret is possibly that after my first attempt at politics, I never went back and tried to make an impact there. I think people can offer leadership in many capacities but political leadership is where you can make the greatest impact.
I am now 55 so I think it is not the right time to start to think about those things. But I believe if I had gone then, I would probably have made a bigger difference in this country. But still, I am satisfied that I have tried to make a difference in whatever small way I have,” he told the publication.
He chairperson of the Media Owners Association (MOA). He co-founded Radio Africa Group in 2000 together with his Ghanian friend Patrick Quarcoo.
The media entity is currently one of the biggest in Kenya owning the Star newspaper and popular radio stations such as Radio Jambo, Classic 105, KISS FM, Homeboyz radio and Smooth FM. Kittony is also the CEO of Capital Realtime limited, which is one of the major Safaricom dealerships in the country.
In 2012, he joined the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI). He is accredited with its revival and restoring it to its past glory through a series of transformative initiatives during his tenure.
Joining the NSE and Success
On May 30th 2018, Kiprono was appointed as NSE board of director. Two years later on July 13th 2020, he was appointed as the Chairman of the bourse after the resignation of Samuel Kimani.
Apart from heading the NSE, Kiprono serves as a board member in different organisations and companies including the Media Council of Kenya, Betting Control and Licensing Board, AAR Holdings Limited, Danida’s Business Advocacy Fund, Radio Africa Group, Mtech Limited and My Jobs in Kenya.
He serves on the Business Advocacy Fund amongst others, and also sits on the advisory council of International Fund for Health in Africa (IFHA), an Amsterdam based private equity fund, and is one of two representatives in the Global Council of the World Chambers Federation in Paris.
Mr. Kittony also actively mentors the youth and regularly participates in philanthropic activities.
Family
He father of four daughters is married to Rosemary.
