BUSINESSCAREERSTECHNOLOGY

Safaricom Appoints Lawyer Stephen Kiptinness to Fix PR Nightmare

Share
Prior to joining Safaricom, Stephen Kiptinness was a Senior Partner at Kiptinness and Odhiambo Associates LLP. [Photo/ Mavuno]
Prior to joining Safaricom, Stephen Kiptinness was a Senior Partner at Kiptinness and Odhiambo Associates LLP. [Photo/ Mavuno]
Share

Safaricom on Wednesday, April 24 announced the appointment of Stephen Kiptinness as the company’s new Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. His appointment will take effect on May 1, 2022 subject to regulatory approvals.

Kiptinness boasts over 27 years of cumulative legal experience. Prior to joining Safaricom, he was a Senior Partner at Kiptinness and Odhiambo Associates LLP heading the technology and Intellectual Property (IP) practice for the past 10 years.

In the course of his career, the Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and certified public secretary has helped telcos, regulators and other players in the telecommunications sector to effectively handle legal hurdles. He also teaches at the University of Nairobi School of Law.

Kiptinness notably joins Safaricom at a time when the company is facing an ever-trickier regulatory environment and mounting consumer complaints on the firm’s operations.

“Stephen will be responsible for the organisation’s reputation management, public policy, legal and regulatory affairs. He will also steer the company’s corporate investment strategy as well as oversee our internal and external communications.”

READ ALSO>>Why Safaricom’s Long-Time Customers Are Disillusioned

“He will also lead the development of a roadmap that will embed purpose in everything we do at Safaricom and among our stakeholders,” Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa disclosed in a statement.

In recent weeks, Safaricom has been fire-fighting after the controversial SIM validation exercise ordered by the Communications Authority sparked a wave of negative public sentiment against the company.

Kiptinness will be the newest member of Safaricom’s ExCo. Between 2009 and 2012, he headed regulatory affairs at Telkom Kenya Orange.

Prior to Telkom, he held roles including Senior Legal Officer at Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), and Legal Officer at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Authority.

His appointment was announced alongside the retirement of Joe Oguttu, who was appointed as Safaricom’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer.

At the time of his retirement, Oguttu was serving as  Chief of Special Projects and Acting Chief Business Development and Strategy officer. He will continue to serve as Chairman of the Safaricom Foundation – the firm’s philanthropic arm.

“The hallmark of Joe’s career and contribution to the success of Safaricom was his absolute willingness to step into an unexpected role whenever requested. All the CEOs of Safaricom from Michael, to Bob, through to myself, relied on Joe in many situations and he never failed to live up to our expectations,” Ndegwa stated.

READ>>Kenyans Miss Out on 23.4% Pay Rise as Employers Reject Atwoli Push

 

Written by
MARTIN SIELE -

Martin K.N Siele is the Content Lead at Business Today. He is also a Quartz contributor and a 2021 Baraza Media Lab-Fringe Graph Data Storytelling Fellow. Passionate about digital media, sports and entertainment, Siele also founded Loud.co.ke

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us

Related Articles
FanisiTech Beverage Awards
BUSINESS

FanisiTech Ranked Top Beverage Sales Automation Company

FanisiTech Limited has been recognised as the First Runners-Up in the "Most...

Kakamega High Court
BUSINESS

High Court Issues Fresh Orders on Truck in Tax Evasion Case

The High Court sitting in Kakamega on 11th December reversed an order...

Flutterwave awards and recognitions
BUSINESSTECHNOLOGY

Payments Technology Firm Flutterwave Listed in ‘Brands That Matter’

Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payment technology company, has been included in Fast Company’s...

Sanlam Kenya Rights Issue
BUSINESSSMART MONEY

Sanlam Kenya Rights Issue Gets Shareholders’ Nod

Listed non-bank financial services firm Sanlam Kenya Plc is set to improve...