When it comes to attracting the best jobs in Kenya, former Nairobi deputy governor Polycarp Igathe tops the list. His resume will leave you green with envy. Igathe’s managerial skills-if not luck (or both)- have made him one of the most sought CEOs in the country.
In this article, WoK highlights the illustrious career of businessman, politician and corporate executive.
Background
Polycarp Igathe attended the University of Nairobi from 1990 to 1995 where he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Sociology. At the university, he was the national chairman of AIESEC in Kenya. He then joined Strathmore University’s Advanced Management Program (AMP) where he studied General Business Administration and Management before joining the Institute of Corporate Governance in Spain where he pursued Organizational Leadership.
Career Journey
After completing his studies, he got his first job in Australia as a Finance Officer at Queensland Health. He worked there for one and a half years before coming back to Kenya where he joined Coca-Cola.
In 2000 he joined Africa Online as a Sales and Marketing Manager before quitting to join Kenya Breweries Limited (now East African Breweries Limited EABL) as a Sales Operations Manager and later promoted to Marketing Manager.
In 2003 he joined Haco Tiger Brands where he worked for 10 years as the Regional Managing Director of Eastern Africa. In 2013, he joined VIVO Energy as the Managing Director where he worked for 4 years and 4 months before quitting in May 2017 to join politics as Mike Sonko’s running mate.
He became the deputy governor of Nairobi city county but resigned from the position after six months becoming the second shortest serving Deputy Governor after Mutahi Kihiga of Nyeri county. He then made a comeback to the corporate world becoming the Chief Commercial Officer of Equity Bank Limited, a position he served for one and a half months before being promoted to become the company’s Managing Director.
Hardly month’s into the job, Vivo Energy poached him back after creating a new position that made him its Africa Executive Vice President in charge of Sales and Marketing. In 2020, Equity took him back where he currently serves as the Chief Commercial Officer of Equity Group Holdings where he serves to date.
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Other positions held
Igathe was the Chairman of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers from 2012 to 2014. He joined the Petroleum Institute of East Africa where he served as the Chairman from 2014 to 2016. Other responsibilities held include Director and Trustee of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance from 2014 to 2016 and has served as the Chairman of the Board of Management of Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls High School since 2010.
In 2015, he was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta to chair the Anti-Counterfeit Agency, a position he held for one year. He was later appointed as the Chairman of the Special Economic Zones Authority of Kenya in October 2016.
Rumours
Polycarp Igathe is running for the Nairobi county gubernatorial race under the Jubilee political party ticket.
“Igathe is in the Nairobi governor race and is among the few aspirants who have paid the nomination fees and submitted all the necessary requirements,” a jubilee party official revealed while speaking to the Star.
Recently, after Rubis Kenya CEO Jean Bergeron was deported from Kenya over economic sabotage in the ongoing fuel crisis, news spread all over the internet that Polycarp Igathe was appointed as the new Rubis Kenya Chief Executive Officer (CEO).However, this news was just that-FAKE!
Being Chris Kirubi’s son
Rumors made heavy rotation on social media platforms that Polycarp Igathe was the son of the late business mogul Chris Kirubi. These reports started surfacing after ex-Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko appointed him as his deputy. According to Igathe, the position he held at Haco Tiger Brands-a company owned by Kirubi-may have made Kenyans think he was the son of the billionaire.
“Kenyans think that if you work in a company for long, a company owned by someone else, you can only be their son,” he told a local daily.
Igathe went to say that his the status worked for him just fine.
“But you know, I love it. Get bought a lot of drinks as a result. When I run into people who want to associate with me because of that myth, oh I take advantage of it and just order a very expensive whiskey,” he added.
