Safal Group Company - Mabati Rolling Mills

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MEET OUR DIRECTORMABATINEWSA jack of alltrades and amaster of allBy George MathewUniversity don, bank director, companychairman, ambassador, MRM Director–all these epithets still do not capturethe essence of the humble, soft spokenDr Benjamin Kipkorir. He had some veryinteresting things to say. Read on.Mabati News: Sir, if I may be permittedto say so, you have had a diverse career,Cambridge educated during the sixties,Head of History at the University of Nairobi,Executive Director, Kenya Commercial Bank,Director, Industrial Development Bank,Kenya’s Ambassador to the United Statesof America, decorated as an Elder of theBurning Spear, I am sure the list goes on.What were the most memorable things ofthis period? Would you wish to have livedyour life differently if you had a chance?Dr Kipkorir: I have had an excitingtime. I have had the chance to work inlocal government administration, I haveworked in the university, I have run aresearch institute then I got into banking,which opened a whole new world for me,new friends and new activities. This waswonderful. The appointment to Washingtonas ambassador came as a crowning pieceto my career. I have had different jobs andgot the satisfaction of the experiences butthrough not pursuing one career. If I coulddo it differently I would wish to have a linearcareer in one organisation.Mabati News: Are there any memorablemoments or incidents from all these years?Dr Kipkorir: My very first assignmentas a local government officer in Sirikwa,Eldoret in 1965 allowed me to meet allkinds of people. One December I washosting a Christmas party for the councillorsand important members of the Eldoret civiccommunity. A white councillor came up to meand asked: “Could I bring my wife?” I replied,“But the card says Mr and Mrs.” To which heresponded: “The problem is that my wife isAfrican.” I looked at him and said, “But I am alsoan African.” And this was the very first time thisAfrican lady married to a white man was broughtto a public arena.Mabati News: Any other experiences Sir, fromyour days at the University of Nairobi?Dr Kipkorir: I joined the University of Nairobiin 1970, the year it was inaugurated out of theUniversity of East Africa. It was a time of greatpromise and excitement. The University wasindependent, young and alive with enthusiasticscholars. Despite claims that the quality ofeducation at UoN has declined over the years Iam happy to note that there are efforts to revivethe standards of education there.Mabati News: Any experiences from your days asAmbassador to the US?Dr Kipkorir: The one exciting experience isthat of fighting American restrictive rules againstimport of Kenyan textiles. I was right at the centreof that. The Minister of Trade and Industry atthat time, Hon. Kiruki M'Mukindia asked me togo and pursue the export markets for Kenyantextile goods. Kenya textiles exports to America,especially pillowcases and sheets were risingrapidly in 1994. This alarmed Americans andthey imposed quotas. One US Congressman wasso upset about this because he felt it was betterfor the African countries to benefit from tradewith America than receive aid and he proposedthe African Growth and Opportunity Act. I testifiedtwice, once at the US Trade Commission andagain at the US Committee of the Congress.Mabati News: How intense is the lobbying in theUS?Dr Kipkorir: US legislation is a functionof many factors and forces. There are interestgroups or constituencies. The powerful cottonlobby produce cotton at subsidised prices.The textile lobby are those who manufacturetextiles with protection from the US government.When an African trade minister meets with aUS trade representative, they are on differentwavelengths. While the African Minister has allthe authority to make a decision on the spot,the US official cannot do so. He has to consulthis constituents and the forces behind them.He follows a due process where all interests arebrought to the table, evaluated and eventuallyan American position arrived at. Then he is ableto make a decision. Then they start lobbying.They have all our statistics, know all our players,they downplay our strengths and highlight ourweaknesses and within no time you find yourselfyielding to their view. African producers have tocontend with such forces. Fortunately for the restof the world, the Chinese are really beating themby producing cheaper, good quality textiles.Mabati News: What do you find different from theKenya of the 60’s and that of today?Dr Kipkorir: Forty years ago, things worked.The roads were good. I remember I could leavemy home in Eldoret after dinner at 8pm andexactly three hours later I’d be in NairobiMabati News: In three hours?Dr Kipkorir: Yes three hours at 60kph. Theroads were smooth and roadblocks did not exist.Local authorities functioned. A farmer producedmaize or wheat took it to KFF and collected hismoney. As simple as that. Today we have manyroadblocks and all other manner of barriers inthe way to do anything. That is the big differenceMRM News | 6
MABATINEWSReceiving a gift from James Kimanthi, aformer classmate at the Nyali Golf Clubfrom 40 years ago and today. What we reallyneed are institutional capacities to identifythe problem: how we are going to solve theproblems and how we are going to implementthe solutions. We have the capacity and thepeople to do it.Mabati News: Any advices for the nextgeneration?Dr Kipkorir: I am very happy with the degreeof professionalism coming in today. Peopleare highly qualified and competent. Tribalismis taking a backseat as more young peopleintermarry. My children have married peoplefrom different tribes. This is the way forward.Mabati News: As a Member of the Board ofDirectors, Mabati Rolling Mills what do you wishto tell the readers?Dr Kipkorir: I met Manu in the late 70’s. Iwas Chairman of IDB. At the time the plant atMariakani was under construction. It was duringa meeting in Abidjan for the African developmentBank. Comcraft had made an applicationfor funds for the smelter at Mariakani formanufacturing Aluminium. There was oppositionby a number of African delegates that it was anon-African venture by an Indian.I remember talking to the President of theAfrican Development Bank, Babacar N'Diayeat the time, and saying, “This is an investmentthat will create employment in Kenya and boosttechnology transfer in Kenya. I happen to knowthe people behind this. They are Kenyans. Thisis not to be seen as a foreign investment byan Indian. Since then I have taken a continuedinterest in Manu’s work and the Comcraft group.When I became Chairman of KenyaCommercial Bank I visited Kaluworks inMombasa and I was amazed at the array ofWith Dr. Manu and some visitors at MRMordinary household goods such as cups, teapots,milk jugs, lanterns and sufurias turned out of theplant. I was very impressed.Kenyans are willing to invest in good ideasand good management. The group is now ripefor part of public ownership in the marketplaceand also for expansion in the public place. Tradebarriers, not just within East Africa itself but alsoin the region are increasingly coming down andas a group we need to take advantage of thesenew opportunities.I really look forward to the day we go publicand get the capacity to expand and achieve thelong-term objectives Manu has had all theseyears.I greatly admire Manu and through him Ihave met all the other directors. I feel privilegedto be working with these entrepreneurs and to bea part of the growth of this organisation.Mabati News: Last question if I may. What do youdo with your life now? Any involvement in socialresponsibility work?Dr Kipkorir: Now that I am retired I am doingsome history research and writing.I have been involved in social responsibilitymostly education. I have been behind highschool building initiatives in Marakwet Districtsuch as Moi Kapsowar Girls, Cheptonge,Chiptilon among others. I have served in theboards of various high schools including St.George’s here in Nairobi. I am also involved atthe local level in building a church at Kapchiropand a water project at my home in Kipkundu.Manu supported me in this project. I would verymuch like to do a children’s clinic with the helpof the Chandaria Foundation.Mabati News wishes you the very best in yourefforts.SIDESHOWBorn in Kapsowar in 1939 DrKipkorir holds a PhD from theUniversity of Cambridge. Between1969 and 1977 he taught Historyat the University of Nairobi, HistoryDepartment. This was quicklyfollowed by a stint as Director ofthe Institute of African Studies from1977 –1983.For his services to the public,Dr Kipkorir was honoured by retiredPresident Moi with the award of theElder of the Burning Spear of theRepublic (EBS) in 1987. He wasappointed Kenya’s Ambassadorto the US from 1994 to 1997 andhas served on three PresidentialCommissions of Inquiry includingthe Armed Forces Pay andAllowances Review Board and theUniversity Working Party.The published book andarticles author has served asthe Executive Chairman of theKenya Commercial Bank andchaired General Motors KenyaLtd board. He has also servedon several boards in a number oforganisations, private, parastataland educational institutions invarious capacities.A devoted social responsibilityenthusiast Dr Kipkorir has beeninvolved in secondary and technicalschools development in his homedistrict, Marakwet among otherareas within the country. The keengolfer is a member of MuthaigaGolf Club as well as the KitaleClub. He is currently playing offhandicap 14.MRM News | 7
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Safal Group Company - Mabati Rolling Mills

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