Investment magnate Chris Kirubi is dead having passed away it his home today afternoon. According to reports, Kirubi has fought a long battle with cancer since 2016.
“It is with It is with deep sorrow that we regret to inform you of the passing away today of Dr. Christopher J. Kirubi, EBS, prominent businessman, investor and entrepreneur in Kenya and the East Africa region. Dr. Kirubi was a significant shareholder and long-serving director of Centum Investment Company PLC and Chairman of the company’s Board Finance and Investment Committee. He was affectionately known to all of us simply as “Chairman”,” says a statement from Centum. Centum is listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange.
Talking about the much dreaded death an interview last year with Business Daily, Kirubi said: “Death is rest. A rest from daily hustles. This is something that is irreversible. You’re born, you grow, you die. In the end, it doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter the age or what you do to try and elongate your life. But at the same time, nobody wants to die.”
Investment portfolio
Dr Kirubi had investments in Manufacturing, Media, Real Estate, Insurance and Investment Sectors. He was the Chairman of Haco Industries, and is recognised as one of Kenya’s first indigenous manufacturers having entered the manufacturing sector in the 1970s and for his many years of service and additionally had served as Chairman of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers.
He was also Chairman of Coca-Cola Nairobi Bottlers, DHL Worldwide Express, Capital Media Group, International House Limited, and Smart Applications International among others.
He was Deputy Chairman of Bayer East Africa Limited.
Asked about how much he was worth given his numerous investments, Dr Kirubi said: “I don’t know. I never count. Counting means looking back and I don’t look back.”
Away from personal work…
Away from his personal work, Dr. Kirubi served on the National Economic and Social Council which was responsible for crafting Kenya’s current blue print for growth, Vision 2030, under President Kibaki’s regime.
He worked with the Government of Ghana as a Board Member of the Investors’ Advisory Council and as Ghanaian Honorary Consul General in Kenya (2000 to 2008) and was the Honorary Counsel to the Republic of Mauritius in Kenya.
He is credited for being a passionate Ambassador for the Kenya Country Brand, having served as Chairperson of Brand Kenya Board from March 2016 – December 2017. “He was passionate about making a difference in the lives of disenfranchised groups and was involved in a number of social causes,” the Centum statement says.
At the time of his passing, he served on the Harvard Global Advisory Council (Massachusetts, USA) with a view to advising the institution on education matters of Africa. He also served on the Institution’s Africa Advisory Council honing in on specific needs of the continent and was a founder Council Member of the AU Foundation.
Dr. Kirubi leaves behind two children, Robert Kirubi and Mary-Ann Musangi.