There are strong arguments based on some antecedents that should s Kenyan succeed out going Bob Collymore as Safaricom CEO, then in some years to come, Safaricom will crumble due to inefficiency and negative influence on the new Kenyan helmsman.

You all know am not a Kenyan so there is no bias.

My argument is as follows :-

The ongoing search scope should cover the following to locate a suitable Kenyan :-

1. Kenyans in private sector in Kenya, a core professional with impeccable integrity .

2. Kenyans in diaspora with proven integrity

3. Kenyan from public sector.

4. Kenyan already in Safaricom in executive position deemed necessary to succeed the outgoing CEO

NOTE:- Kenyan here refers to Kenyan citizen irrespective of initial country of origin.

In my native nigeria when CEO position was to be ceded from the traditional Dutch (Shell Nigeria PLC) to a Nigerian citizen, there was similar apprehension some years before.
But be informed that the Nigerian that was recruited from ExxonMobil, Houston headquarters so far is performing better than the dutch man he succeeded .

This Nigerian was a home bred personnel of our local exxonmobil but was seconded or posted to Houston USA, headquarters of ExxonMobil, he worked there for several years and got the Shell plump job.
Nigerian reputation in terms of inefficiency and corruption is worse than Kenya. How come a Nigerian is one of the best CEO'S in Royal Dutch Shell overseas geographical units?

I believe these issues depends on the individual and the exposure of such candidate and the internal recruitment and succession process of Safaricom.

Collymore himself is a British citizen by naturalization. His country of origin is Guyana. He was born and bred in Guyana before he proceeded to UK for further studies. Guyana is not better than Kenya in terms of corruption, inefficiency of the government and unemployment. It is one of the worst Caribbean countries in all ramifications . But Collymore is different.

If due diligence is taken Kenyan equivalent of Collymore can be found .
I may ask MJ, Michael Joseph, is he not a Kenyan? Is Njoroge your CBK governor not doing well?

I am not saying that foreigners are not suitable for the job. My argument is that a Kenyan candidate should NOT be ruled out.

Take a look at KCB. When I started investing in 2004 in this counter in 2004_ the CEO was a foreigner Terry Davidson.
The current CEO Mr Olgara is the second Kenyan after another Kenyan (Martins Otieno) but KCB profitability had been increasing by leaps and bounds even more than Terry era. This is irrespective of the fact that GOK is one of the majority shareholder of KCB.

I know a Kenyan friend that divested his investment from KCB since then and he is regretting now.

This is my take, a a minor tiny foreign shareholder of Safaricom.
You are also entitled to your opinion !

Regards

KCB had Bii (GM) and Kaminchia (Executive Chairman) who ran the bank down.
Gareth George was the next CEO. Ex-Barclays I think. I think he was Kenyan.
Terry Davidson replaced GG. Ex-Citi I think. He was Kenyan. Also a director of KK until recently.
MOO replaced TD.

MJ (Safaricom). South African who left for the USA. American. Then seconded to Kenya. Then became Kenyan.

May the best (Wo)Man win.

Terry Davidson is a Kenyan by birth, born & brought up in Kenya, British Citizen though. the dad speaks fluent Kikuyu.

When Bob was away, a Kenyan Ogutu ran the outfit pretty good. Age might be an issue for him.

Equity but JM has skin in the game.
KenyaRe
Centum but both JM and CK have skin in the game

Safaricom is successful because of Kenyan subcribers, Kenyan employees, Kenyan dealers, Kenyan Agents, Kenyan retailers, Kenyan Investors (including GOK), Kenyan Culture (they use original local content not localized generic adverts and product promotions), Kenyan hospitality (Bob's wife is kenyan).

I rest my case in favour of Kenyan CEO