Asante sana Kip: The man who saw potential and believed

Question: So it's been quite a while. I believe 25 plus years. Tell us how and when and where you met Kiprono Kittony 

I met Kiprono Kittony about 27 years ago. A family lawyer called Wilson Kalia back in Eldoret introduced him to me. I had just graduated and was looking for a job. 

And one of the people that I was set up to see was Kiprono. So I met Kiprono. He interviewed me. 

I was fresh out of campus. And he said, I didn't have experience, but what he said stuck with me up to this day. And for me, it actually drives my mantra when I'm hiring. 

He said he liked my attitude. Despite the fact that I had no experience, he said he loved my attitude and he was going to take a chance with me. And well, here we are now. 

Very good. Tell us about those early beginnings and how Radio Africa Group was formed and who was in the mix, what was happening, the circumstances around it.

Question: Tells us about Kiprono and the unique thing about RAL and where he comes into the matrix. 

This was in the late 90s and media freedom was very restricted. 

So thanks to Kiprono, he met with two investors from Uganda, Patrick Quarcoo and William Pike, who had wanted to set up a media house in Kenya. And then they were told the one person who can make it come through was Kiprono, courtesy of his ability to navigate through the political landscape and the minds that were there at the time. So when the trio formed a partnership, it gave birth to Radio Africa. 

Question  And how did you find yourself in the mix?

Very interesting. I was working for Kiprono in one of his debt recovery companies called Vanguard Management. 

When they started this project, he seconded me to Patrick Quarcoo just to help them find a footing into the Kenyan market, surveying the media landscape, researching the market, researching test preferences of consumers, just trying to see if there was a real demand for another radio station. 

Because at the time, people didn't think that the country could take another private radio station. So by and large, I got introduced to the two men, and we worked so hand in hand that by the time the station was ready for launch, Patrick told Kiprono that he's taking his young man with him, because I had been such an integral part of the creation of this product called Radio Africa. 

And the rest is history.

Question: Do you have a nickname you call him? 

Everybody calls him Kip. Everybody who knows him personally and fondly likes to call him Kip. And I think he prefers to be called Kip. 

But for me, the one thing I would say about Kip is that he is an enabler. He's not the kind of business owner who would buy a dog and then do the barking. If he buys a dog, he lets the dog bark. 

For him, I think his pride is enabling businesses, enabling young people like us at the time, giving you the tools and setting you off. Great. Of his suit, of his office, it definitely has a social side.

Question: Give us some limelight into this man called Kiprono, away from the office? 

I've never known a man who loves and cherishes his wife more than Kiprono. I met Kiprono before he married Rosemary. 

So they marry, get their first daughter, who I used to drop at Brookhouse  Kindergarten. He's a family man. He loves his wife.

Question: What's the one thing we'll remember him for here as Radio Africa Group? 

Like I said, Kiprono created thriving spaces. 

We'll always remember Kiprono for giving us literally the latitude to do what we wanted as we grew his business. Great. Thank you very much. 

Now we want you to, in your own words, to wish him well in his next chapter. 

Question; Address Kiprono as a personal friend, as a boss, as a chairman, as everyone knows him as a founder of Radio Africa Group. 

Kiprono, as you transcend to the next level of leadership, mine comes from the heart. 

Remembering when your dad and my dad were schoolmates at Kapsabet, then we go to work with each other. You literally defined what business is like and what running a business is like. And were it not for you, a lot of us would never have been here. 

So we look forward to interacting again with you, Kip. I will call you, please forgive me if I call you time and again, to ask for counsel on business and life.

And I just really thank God that I was lucky enough and privileged to be a part of your pupils in leadership.