Kenya’s leading telecommunications service provider Safaricom has announced the exit of its Exco member and Chief of Special Projects and Acting Chief Business Development & Strategy Officer Joe Ogutu 

Safaricom’s CEO Peter Ndegwa announced Ogutu will retire by the end of April after working with the company for 17 years.

Ndegwa described Ogutu as a candid and supportive person.

Joe Ogutu. PHOTO/SAFARICOM

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“Over the last 2 years, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Joe and I have come to rely on his advice, candid feedback, and support,” Ndegwa said.

Ogutu joined Safaricom in May 2005 as a Chief Corporate officer and has since held several other roles in the company.

In 2008 he was appointed to serve as Chief Human Resource Officer before taking on the role of Director – Resources, following a reorganization in March 2011.

In October 2012, he was appointed Director – Strategy & Innovation, where he worked closely with the CEO in formulating the strategic direction of the business with a focus on developing Safaricom’s position as an industry leader in driving innovation in products and services.


While in his present role, Ogutu was part of the team that coordinated the company’s successful bid for the second telecommunications license in Ethiopia.

Ogutu also effectively steered the company alongside former CFO, Sateesh Kamath, when the late Bob Collymore was on medical leave and has been the chairperson of the Safaricom Foundation since 2012.

He boasts over 35 years of experience in the communication industry of which 20 of them he held at the Executive Committee level.

He is accredited with, among many other achievements, being actively involved in reforming of the telecommunications sector and establishing the institutional framework for the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy).

Ogutu is accredited with, among many other achievements, being actively involved in reforming of the telecommunications sector and establishing the institutional framework for the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy).

Throughout his 17 years at Safaricom, Ogutu built a reputation as a notable business leader, mentor and coach to many; qualities that we at Safaricom have benefitted greatly from.

Ogutu will continue to serve as the chairperson of the Safaricom Foundation where he has been instrumental in driving partnerships that transform the lives of millions of people and enable communities to be self-sufficient.

Safaricom has also announced the appointment of a new Exco member Stephen Kiptinness as the Chief Corporate Officer effective May 1, 2022.

Stephen Kiptinness. PHOTO/TWITTER

According to Safaricom’s CEO, Kiptinness will be responsible for the company’s reputation management, public policy, legal and regulatory affairs.

Kiptinness will also steer the development and implementation of the company’s corporate investment strategy and oversee Safaricom’s internal and external communications.

The new appointee will lead the development of a roadmap that will embed purpose in everything the company does and with the company’s stakeholders.

Safaricom CEO said that Kiptinness has over 27 years of cumulative legal experience which he will offer the company.

Before his appointment, Kiptinness was a Senior Partner at Kiptinness and Odhiambo Associates LLP for 10 years where he headed the Technology and Intellectual Property Practice.

He also worked at Telkom Kenya Orange where he also headed the Regulatory affairs for a period of 3 years prior to starting his practice.

Kiptinness also held various positions before joining Telkom Kenya Orange such as Legal Officer and subsequently Senior Legal Officer at the Communications Authority of Kenya, and Legal Manager at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, having begun his legal career as a Trainee Advocate at Oraro & Co. Advocates.

Kiptinness is a holder of a Bachelor of Laws (LL. B Hons) degree from the ILS Law College, University of Pune, a Diploma in Computer Science, a Certificate in Human Resource Management, a Postgraduate Diploma in Law and a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Information Technology & Telecommunications Law from the London School of Economics.