Beyond shadow of doubt, Oduor has scaled great heights

KCB chief executive Martin Oduor-Otieno (L) presents PM Raila Odinga a copy of his biography ‘Beyond the Shadows of My Dream’ at Serena Hotel shortly after its launch on Wednesday. [Photo: Andrew Kilonzi/Standard]

By Kiundu Waweru

NAIROBI, KENYA: “Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.”

Something along these lines by Charles Dickens in novel David Copperfield may have played in Martin Oduor-Otieno’s mind as he signed copies of his biography at the Serena Hotel on Wednesday evening.

The outgoing Kenya Commercial Bank chief executive had a lingering smile on his face as he autographed copy after copy of his book, Beyond the Shadows of My Dream.

For a man who was born in a humble family and whose dream was to become a priest, Oduor has indeed scaled heights he would never have dreamt about in his childhood days.

The book is written in a flawless narrative and reads like a tale of an ordinary person whose hard work and determination, plus a little bit of good luck conspire to make him an extraordinary person.

Authored by Barrack Muluka, Rosemary Okello-Orlale and Daniel Odhiambo-Orlale, the biography is a literary gem as it is motivational.

At the launch, friends, relatives and acquaintances turned out in large numbers to buy the book and formed a beeline to get the autograph.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga made an appearance, chatted briefly with Oduor and left.

Also present to witness the launch was former President Daniel arap Moi’s Dream Team, except Mr Titus Naikuni. Oduor was also a member of the team, which was conceived by the president in the 1990s in the wake of waning international donor support and confidence in a bid to kick-start the flailing economy.

Oduor dedicates acres of space in the book on the Dream Team.

“Dr Richard Leakey, then working as the first Chairman of the Kenya Wildlife Service was asked by President Moi to put together a list of proposed people who would be key in an attempt to reform the Government so that we could restore the IMF (International Monetary Fund) lending programmes in Kenya,” says the book. 

When Oduor’s name came up, Leakey was informed that Oduor worked at Barclays Bank and that he was neither the boss, nor the second in command but the Finance Director. “He was not at an atmospheric level.”

Political world

When Leakey showed Odour the letter from Moi, he was shocked: “Dr Leakey, I think you must have got the wrong Oduor-Otieno, because this could not possibly be something I could relate to, written by the President.”

The then president was also curious about Oduor. Moi is said to have asked: “who is this guy? Does he have any public profile in the political world?” Well, Oduor didn’t have any, but his record in the private sector stood for him.

Leakey, however, convinced the president that Oduor was up to the task. He was consequently appointed Permanent Secretary to the Treasury. The other members of the Dream Team included Naikuni, the then Managing Director Magadi Soda Company who became PS for Transport and Communications, Dr Wilfred Mwangi, Energy PS, Mr Mwaghazi Mwachofi, PS Financial, Kitili Mbathi, Investment PS and Prof Shem Migot-Adhola, Agriculture PS.

The reform’s team got down to work immediately. But things did not go well, according to the book, as roadblocks were put on their way and the Dream Team soon felt like the “Nightmare Team.”  Soon Oduor was out of government and back to his familiar banking world at Barclays.

In 2005, he was appointed the Deputy chief executive officer, Kenya Commercial Bank and CEO in 2007.

Oduor’s journey to the helm of KCB has been long and eventful. As a fresh Bachelor of Commerce graduate from the University of Nairobi, he got a job with Pannell Bellhouse & Mwangi in 1979.

After a fruitful stay, he moved on to BAT where he worked for a decade and left only a “rank away from the Finance Director (position)”. He headed to the Barclays Bank of Kenya as the Finance Director and the Company Secretary. In 1997, Oduor became the chairman, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.

And there is no shadow of doubt that the son of teacher Peter Cornel Otieno and Mama Mary Rita Opiyo who was born on November 13, 1956, has come a long way.

Oduor’s father had grown up in the church, and as such, his son grew up as a strong Catholic.

In fact, he was aiming to become a priest when he joined St Paul’s Juniorate under the Xaverian Brothers, a Catholic brotherhood.

Beyond now

They were guided by strict rules, and Odour broke a seemingly minor one. He was expelled immediately. As a result, his priesthood dream was snuffed out and he was left troubled, wondering about Christian values.

He later joined St Peters High School, Mumias and later the celebrated Cardinal Otunga High School before joining the University of Nairobi to study Commerce.

“So, what is the future of the shadow of your dream, beyond now?” we asked Oduor during the launch.

He shrugged, smiled and said: “I don’t know.” “Fair enough, but will it be in public or private sector?”

Still smiling: “I don’t know.”