Dr Christopher J. Kirubi, EBS, was a prominent businessman, investor and entrepreneur in Kenya and the East Africa region.
Dr. Kirubi was a significant shareholder and long-serving director of Centum Investment Company PLC and Chairman of the company’s Board Finance and Investment Committee. He was affectionately known to all of us simply as “Chairman”.
As an investor, Dr Kirubi was invested in the Manufacturing, Media, Real Estate, Insurance and Investment Sectors of the economy.
He was the Chairman of Haco Industries, and is recognised as one of Kenya’s first indigenous manufacturers having entered the manufacturing sector in the 1970s and for his many years of service and additionally had served as Chairman of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers.
He was also Chairman of Coca-Cola Nairobi Bottlers, DHL Worldwide Express, Capital Media Group, International House Limited, and Smart Applications International among others.
He was Deputy Chairman of Bayer East Africa Limited.
Dr. Kirubi had been involved extensively with several African Governments.
He served on the National Economic and Social Council which was responsible for crafting Kenya’s Vision 2030 under President Kibaki’s regime.
He worked with the Government of Ghana as a Board Member of the Investors’ Advisory Council and as Ghanaian Honorary Consul General in Kenya (2000 to 2008) and was the Honorary Counsel to the Republic of Mauritius in Kenya.
He was a passionate Ambassador for the Kenya Country Brand and served as Chairperson of Brand Kenya Board from March 2016 – December 2017.
He was passionate about making a difference in the lives of disenfranchised groups and was involved in a number of social causes.
At the time of his passing, he served on the Harvard Global Advisory Council (Massachusetts, USA) with a view to advising the institution on education matters of Africa.
He also served on the Institution’s Africa Advisory Council honing in on specific needs of the continent and was a founder Council Member of the AU Foundation.
He has left behind two children, Robert Kirubi and Mary-Ann Musangi.
