Pomp and Glamour at Mike’s Send-off

KenGen this past Wednesday bid farewell to Mike Njeru whose glamorous career came to an end in the month of February after serving the sector for 28 years.

In a colourful farewell party that was held at Sankara hotel organised by the KenGen Foundation, friends and family gathered together to pay their tribute to former KenGen foundation trustee Mike Njeru.

KenGen Chairman Mr. Joshua Choge presents a gift to outgoing KenGen Foundation Managing Trustee Mike Njeru during the event.

Speaking at the party, the Chairman of the Board Joshua Choge, said that Mike will be remembered for the critical role he played building the KenGen corporate identity after the company separated from KPLC to become a strong, attractive brand that it is today.

At the same time the Chairman heaped praises on Mike particularly for the role he played in the community management by creating the stakeholders coordination committees that ensured the company undertook projects smoothly.

Mr. Choge singled out the establishment of the KenGen Foundation which he said was Mike’s greatest legacy adding that through the foundation, KenGen had changed the lives of many Kenyans.

Addressing the congregation, Chief Guest Mike Njeru narrated how he was headhunted by former KPLC Samuel Gichuru to join the Public relation industry having previously served as a Journalist at the Voice of Kenya (VOK), Kenya Times and the Standard Media Group and how he ended in Philanthropy as the KenGen foundation managing trustee.

Outgoing ManagingnTrustee Mike Njeru during his send off party

“It was my desire to retire at the age of 55 and I remember in the year 2012, I went to the former MD Eddy Njoroge and told him you know what in December I want to retire at the age of 55 because I don’t feel challenged to work in Corporate Affairs anymore. That work should be done by young people and he said NO!. We have been talking about starting a foundation suppose I allow you to retire then I give you a contract to start a foundation hence I took up the new challenge first of all working in a completely new field coming from Corporate Affairs to Philanthropy.” He stated.

Mr. Njeru also stated that he felt he had left the Foundation on the runaway and that he believes his successor will be able to take off and take the foundation to greater heights and also thanked the KenGen staff for their continuous support through the giver initiative.

The KenGen Foundation team presents their gift to their outgoing boss Mike Njeru during the event.

“One thing that has helped shape the foundation is the KenGen Staff who believe in the foundation and have become one of the main players in terms of fundraising and so on. As at the moment, I think more than half of KenGen staff are members of the giver-initiative. I don’t think there is any other foundation in the country that has involved its staff to that extent.” He said.

On the future of the KenGen Foundation, Mike stated that it was everybody’s responsibility in KenGen to realise that the organisation is a baby of the company and it is the objective of the company to support and protect it to enhance its growth.

He further expounded on his two months of retirement experience where he stated one is likely to get away with certain things.

He gave an example of how he was recently stopped by a young policeman who ended up not booking him based on the account of being a senior citizen.

He wrapped up his speech by giving five take home points: Always enjoy your work at all times; be yourself; save and invest; make friends and keep them; and lastly make a very good plan for your retirement.

Business Performance Director David Muthike represented the MD & CEO Mrs. Rebecca Miano during the event.

For her part, KenGen MD & CEO Rebecca Miano, in a speech read on her behalf by Strategy and Business Performance Director David Muthike stated that she had worked with Mike for many years and one thing she always struggled to emulate from him was his ability to always remain cool, calm, and collected even in the most demanding of circumstances.

“Mike would always afford a smile and a joke and that character endeared him to everyone who worked with him. Mike is indeed a free spirit, a happy soul and somebody you can always count on for support.” emphasised the MD & CEO.

She recalled how she knew Mike Njeru since he joined Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) as the Communications Manager when she was a junior lawyer in the Company Secretary’s office at KPLC.

“As destiny would have it, we were the unfortunate lot to be moved to the faceless company when in 1997 the sector was reformed which came with unbundling of the energy sector.

“Mike and I worked very closely during the formative stages of the brand. At that time, he was Corporate Affairs manager and the work of creating the new brand was one of his key assignments. Today, without fear, I can proudly say that the KenGen corporate brand is Mike’s brainchild and for this the company is forever grateful for the sacrifices he and the team made to get this done. Today we enjoy the fruits of that history thanks to you Mike,” she reiterated.

Other Key speakers during the farewell party included former KenGen Managing Director and CEO, Albert Mugo, Human Resources andAdministration Director, Abraham Serem, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Director Eng. Simon Ngure, KenGen Foundation Board of Trustees Paul Wambugu, and KenGen Foundation Acting Managing Trustee Anthony Igecha.

Others were CEO, East Africa Philanthropy Network, Evans Okinyi, Managing Director, Better Globe Forestry Ltd, Jean-Paul Deprins, Director, Corporate Affairs, Communication and Sustainable Development, Susan Maingi, family and friends who all paid tribute to Mike’s amazing journey at KenGen.

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