Why Corporate Kenya needs to take CEO succession strategically

NAIROBI: Corporate Kenya has had its ups and downs in recent years. There have been stories of highly successful firms such as Safaricom, the most profitable company in Kenya, and East Africa Breweries Ltd. More recently, we have seen Kenya Airways (KQ) post losses that have shocked the region.

CEOs who were at one point the darlings of their industries have fallen from grace. Titus Naikuni, for example, had his last term in KQ clouded by loss-making. Evans Kidero, who at one point transformed the sugar industry, is now facing his share of blame for the collapse of Mumias Sugar Company. Jonathan Ciano, who transformed Uchumi Supermarkets from total collapse to a great hope for the nation, exited acrimoniously.