The Kenya Pipeline Company Limited (KPC) Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Joe Kimutai Sang as Acting Managing Director, effective immediately.
Sang succeeds Irungu Macharia, whose three-year contract expired on January 1, 2023.
According to Faith Bett, Chairperson of KPC, Sang’s brief but highly effective tenure at KPC (2016-2018) saw remarkable changes in the State Corporation’s management and performance.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors of KPC, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Kimutai Sang as acting Managing Director with effect from January 23, 2023,” said KPC Board Chairman Faith Bett Boinett in a statement.
Bett stated that she was a member of the KPC board that saw the company’s profitability rise steadily beginning in 2016 when he took over management, culminating in a record Profit Before Tax of KES 12.4 billion (KES 8.6 billion after tax) in 2018. This is the Company’s highest profit in its 45-year history.
However, since Sang’s forced departure in December 2018, the Company’s performance and profitability have taken a significant hit, resulting in a Profit Before Tax of KES 6.9 Billion (KES 1.6 Billion after tax) in 2021, a drop of more than 80% in four years. Bett attributed the drop to current employee dissatisfaction and low morale, which is reflected in the Company’s output.
In light of these developments, the KPC Board has determined that Sang is the best candidate for the position of Acting Managing Director, owing to his strong performance record with the company and his familiarity with KPC’s issues and processes.
Sang previously worked as a Project Economist for WHO-KEMRI, as a Financial Accountant for National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK), as a Management Accountant for Unga Limited, as Head of Finance for East African Breweries Limited (EABL) Subsidiary, as Head of Group Performance and Reporting for East African Breweries Limited (EABL) Group, as General Manager Finance & Strategy with KPC, and as Managing Director in April 2016.
Sang has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a member of the Kenya Institute of Public Certified Accountants (ICPAK).
In December 2022, the Anti-Corruption Court cleared Joe Sang and five former managers of all charges in the KES 1.9 billion Kisumu Oil Jetty case.
The court upheld the decision of trial magistrate Victor Wakumile, finding that there was insufficient evidence to prove the criminal allegations of abuse of office, undertaking a project without prior planning, and willful disregard for rules governing the management of public funds.
