Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore plans to step down in August for health reasons, but the government’s insistence he should be succeeded by a Kenyan has delayed announcing his replacement.
The state had initiated plans to have the incoming CEO is a Kenyan. However, as the plans seem to have hit a rock, they changed tune.
The government objected, citing an agreement supporting the appointment of a Kenyan as CEO, adopted at a shareholder meeting in 2017.
Joe Mucheru, the minister for information communication and technology, said there had been no formal communication from the company on Collymore’s successor.
However, he said he would be surprised if the board could not find a Kenyan to run the company, adding that part of Collymore’s remit was to groom a local successor.
“I would be very surprised if they can’t find a Kenyan. It will be hard for them to justify, what is so special about telecoms?” Mucheru told media.
Kenyans are opposed to the idea of having the giant telco company led by a native, citing this will open a floodgate of massive corruption.
Here are some reactions by KOT:
That would be the end of safaricom. Oh no. Kenyans are coming out as genetically corrupt. The business is also quite sophisticated for us.
— Peter k. Ikua (@ikua_peter) April 29, 2019
Ooh so Now that the government knows safaricom makes lots of profit they want a share do the names naikuni,kidero ring any bells coz that's how kq and mumias respectively went under not forgetting uchumi amongst others
— miss Jackson (@irenekoj) April 29, 2019
They've stolen billions elsewhere sasa they' tryna steal Safaricom's daily billions.
— Lilliana Bwire (@LillianaBwire) April 29, 2019
Naah Nope No.
I disagree let them source from outside or else that will mark the death of safaricom
— bryden james (@brydenjames2) April 29, 2019
The moment a Kenyan takes over Safaricom, that will be the end of the story & the DEATH of Safaricom. It will be looted to the core & it will die even a 1,000 times than Kenya Airways. Bob Collymore has done a wonderful job at Safaricom! We can't afford him leaving it to a Kenyan
— juma G. 🇰🇪 (@jumaf3) April 29, 2019
If the government replace #Safaricom with an native it will be unfortunate and the end of an era about @SafaricomPLC as a pride of kenya. History has demonstrated our own citizens in the name of #Corruption Graft and get reach quick attitude make companies fall apart
— #Referendum#PowerOfHandshake/ImpunityMustEnd (@Mzalendo2030) April 29, 2019
No.. No no… You will hear a prominent family is taking over
— Mike Ireri (@Mikemlachakee) April 29, 2019
Unless you want @SafaricomPLC to become like @KenyaAirways then go ahead and select a Kenyan. #Goodluck
— Elsegundo™ (@OscarKaranja) April 29, 2019
Collymore has been at the helm of Safaricom since 2010.
Do you support governments move to have Kenyan successor?
Let us know in the comment section.