Companies

Safaricom picks in-house manager to replace Waita

waita

Secretary of Delivery in the Office of the President Mr Nzioka Waita. FILE PHOTO | NATIONMEDIA GROUP

Safaricom has promoted Steve Chege to the position of director of corporate affairs, taking over from Nzioka Waita who left the telco a week ago after he was appointed Secretary of Delivery in the Office of the President.

Mr Chege has been Safaricom’s head of regulatory and public policy, a position that he has held for the past three years.

He was mainly in charge of managing Safaricom’s engagement with stakeholders, regulators and government on licensing, compliance, spectrum, numbering, interconnection and policy issues.

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore also promoted Marie-Anne Kui Kinyanjui to head the corporate and communications department.

Ms Kinyanjui was previously a manager in the same department having joined Safaricom six months ago from IT giant IBM.

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Chege to the position of director - corporate affairs with effect from 24th April 2015,” said Mr Collymore in a communication to staff.

Sound guidance

“Steve takes over from Nzioka and will lead the corporate affairs team in delivering strategic external relations with stakeholders and regulators as well as safeguarding Safaricom’s interests and reputation.”

Mr Waita joined Safaricom in January 2006 as an in-house counsel.

In 2007 he was seconded to the Vodafone Group Public Policy team.

He was appointed senior manager public policy & market regulation in 2008. In July 2011, he was appointed head of regulatory & public policy, which Mr Collymore said he distinguished himself in delivering sound guidance on important regulatory and competition issues as well as developing meaningful relationships with key regulators.

Ms Kinyanjui will be tasked with pushing forward Safaricom’s strategic communication agenda and will report to Mr Chege.

“As a trained journalist, she has a wealth of experience across the communications landscape having worked over the past 14 years across formal newsroom settings, PR agencies and corporate environments —all with a strong focus on the technology sector,” Mr Collymore added.