Political leaders have previously shown prowess in their leadership skills far before vying for the prestigious seats. Some have held high positions in their previous career paths whilst others directed a whole vision of companies under the hat of Chief Executive Officers.
Through determination, most of the leaders have strived to rise to the top of the positions before their breakthrough in politics. Their high-position background depicts their years of experience in various fields and their capacity to lead.
Kenyans.co.ke has summed up 5 politicians who have held CEO positions before venturing into governance.
Ronald Karauri
Kasarani Member of Parliament (MP) Ronald Karauri was CEO of the online gaming platform Sportpesa before winning the political seat on an independent ticket. Karauri steered the betting company into being one of the biggest in the sector in Kenya.
Despite the ups and downs that the company faced due to the government’s regulations on betting platforms, Karauri, through his Sportpesa, managed to resume operations.
To what seems like soaring to higher heights, literally, Karauri has also had a stint as a pilot flying the Boeing 737 before being selected as the chairperson of the Kenya Airlines Pilots Association.
Tabitha Karanja
Tabitha Karanja held the position of CEO at Keroche Breweries before her transition into politics that saw her scoop Nakuru County senatorial seat.
Tabitha led Keroche into being the largest brewery in Kenya owned by a non-multinational company.
Fernandes Barasa
Kakamega Governor, Fernandes Barasa, held the CEO position at Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (Ketraco).
Prior to joining KETRACO, FCPA Barasa worked as the Treasury Manager and later as the head of factories accounts at the Kenya Tea Development Agency Limited (KTDA). He also worked for Kenya Airways and East Africa Reinsurance in senior management positions.
Benjamin Cheboi
Benjamin Cheboi held the position of CEO at the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) before his breakthrough in politics to being the Governor of Baringo County.
Cheboi’s political journey began in 2013 when he contested and won the seat via the defunct URP party. He vied for the seat during the 2017 General elections through the Jubilee party but still lost the seat. He, however, won in 2022.
Kawira Mwangaza
Meru Governor, Kawira Mwangaza, has had a bumpy ride in politics. She unsuccessfully vied for Buuri Constituency Parliamentary seat in 2013 before trying her luck once more in 2017 as the Woman Representative for Meru County. Prior to that, she held the position of CEO of Mwangaza Distributors Ltd.
Before joining politics, she ventured into small businesses like cake baking which, in turn, led to a successful hardware business. Governor Kawira also made strides into the communication and Media business where she founded the first Meru language TV station known as Baite TV.
