Kiprono Kittony: From Kitale Farmer to Radio Africa Co-Founder & NSE Boss

From Right: Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, President William Ruto, NSE Chairman Kiprono Kittony, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja among other guests during the official launch of Trading Bill
From Right: Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, President William Ruto, NSE Chairman Kiprono Kittony, and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja among other guests during the ringing of Trading Bell in a past event
File

Kiprono Kittony is a household name. The man is not only from a powerful family but has also worked hard, as a business executive, an entrepreneur and a farmer. 

Born in 1965 in Kericho County, Kittony started his primary education in Kericho before his parents moved to Nairobi where he enrolled at Lavington primary school in 1971.

After 4 years in the city, his parents, the late Paul and Zipporah Kittony -  decided to settle in Kitale in 1975,  where he joined primary school.

A second-born in a family of three, Kiprono topped the country in Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) Exams in 1977, before joining the prestigious Lenana School.

An undated image of President William Ruto holding an award together with NSE Chairman Kiprono Kittony
An undated image of President William Ruto holding an award together with NSE Chairman Kiprono Kittony
File

Kiprono Kittony started his career as a farmer working together with his three siblings on their father's farm before rising to become a serial entrepreneur.

He is the current chairman of the Nairobi Securities Exchange - NSE, the leading securities exchange in East and Central Africa.

Kittony was appointed Chairman of the NSE Board on July 13, 2020, and as a Board Director of the NSE on May 30, 2018.

Nairobi Security Exchange is important in helping the growth of Kenya's economy by encouraging savings and investment, as well as helping local and international companies access cost-effective capital. 

Prior to this appointment to NSE, he was the National President of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry - KNCCI, the premiere business membership organization in Kenya.

Besides, the 57-year-old is a co-founder and Chairman of Radio Africa Limited which is now the fastest-growing media company in Kenya, with several radio stations, digital brands and well as a newspaper.

He is a well-known personality in business leadership circles in Kenya, having served in several powerful capacities, including being the immediate past Chairman of the Media Owners Association.

Kittony holds Commerce (1988) and Law (2005) degrees from the University of Nairobi. He also pursued a Global Executive MBA at United States International University (USIU) in conjunction with Columbia Business School.

One of his biggest influences in politics was his late uncle, former Eldoret North MP Reuben Chesire, who ignited his desire in him to run for a political seat.

However, in 1977 he unsuccessfully vied for the Cherengany parliamentary, before going back to farming.

Kiprono Kittony has widely been credited with the revival of KNCCI, which has been restored to its past glory through a series of transformative initiatives during his tenure.

He also chairs several boards, CreditInfo CRB Kenya Limited, AAR Insurance Limited and Mtech Limited. 

He serves on the Business Advocacy Fund amongst others, and also sits on the advisory council of IFHA (International Fund for Health in Africa ), an Amsterdam-based private equity fund, and is one of two representatives in the Global Council of the World Chambers Federation in Paris - as captured on his LinkedIn profile.

An undated image of Kiprono Kittony at his farm herding cows
An undated image of Kiprono Kittony at his farm herding cows
File