Naikuni steps into Merali’s shoes as Airtel Kenya chairman

Airtel Kenya’s search for an influential Kenyan board member has seen the telecommunications firm appoint former Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuni as its chairman to replace businessman Naushad Merali, who retired in May.

Mr Naikuni, a one-time permanent secretary in the retired president Daniel Moi’s government, has extensive contacts in both the private and public sectors.

He is a former managing director of Magadi Soda Company.

“We are pleased to have Mr Naikuni on the board,” Airtel Africa CEO Christian de Faria said in a statement.

“His wealth of experience will add immense value to the board and provide strategic guidance to our operations in Kenya, to enable Airtel gain an important place in the Telecom sector in the country.”

Mr Naikuni is replacing Mr Merali whose 15-year stint was linked to his ownership interest in the country’s second largest mobile operator.

A billionaire investor, Mr Merali owned 40 per cent of the telecommunications company in 2000, but has over the years reduced his equity to the current five per cent.

READ: Why Merali is moving the pillars of his business empire

Airtel has found it difficult to shake the dominance of Safaricom despite setting off a fierce price war that has partly contributed to the current low calling rates.

The majority Indian-owned telco is betting on Mr Naikuni to help drive its strategy in the local market where it is taking over subscribers of yuMobile in an effort to raise its market share.

yuMobile is owned by India’s conglomerate Essar that is exiting the Kenyan market after years of loss-making, with Safaricom acquiring its infrastructure as part of the joint buyout with Airtel.

Airtel is the latest multinational to appoint Mr Naikuni to its board, seeking to tap his extensive corporate experience and networks in the local market.

Mr Naikuni was earlier this month appointed the chairman of Rift Valley Railways (RVR) to replace businessman Ngugi Kiuna who left after his investment firm Transcentury divested from the railway operator.

He retired as Kenya Airways’ CEO last month after 11 years and was replaced by Mr Jeremy Ngunze, who was previously the airline’s chief operating officer.

Mr Naikuni also holds directorships in several firms including Maersk Kenya Ltd, Access Kenya Ltd, and CFC Bank Kenya Limited.

He has held several senior positions in the current and past administrations, including that of former president Moi when he was a member of the “Dream Team” tasked with turning around the economy at the turn of the century.