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New KCC gets managing director

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 2 – Daniel Langat has been appointed Managing Director of the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) Limited, ending uncertainty over would head the dairy processor nearly a year and a half after the position fell vacant.

Cooperative Minister Joseph Nyagah said on Wednesday that Mr Langat emerged tops out of the 16 candidates that were short-listed and interviewed for the post.

"I have today appointed Dr Daniel K. Langat to be the new Managing Director New KCC.  This follows the recommendation by the Board of Directors that placed him number one out of the 143 applicants, and the 16 that were short-listed," the minister said.

The New KCC has been without a substantive MD since the sacking of Francis Mwangi in December 2009 fuelling speculation that there was political interference in the running of the firm.

The board re-advertised the post of Managing Director in January this year after their first attempt in February 2010 allegedly failed to get a qualified person to steer the company to greater heights. The post has since been held by Milka Mugo in an acting capacity.

Rumours abound that the position had remained vacant because Mr Nyagah had failed to pick an MD from a list of three candidates given to him by the board in April last year, reports that the minister has vehemently denied.

While congratulating the new boss, Mr Nyagah pointed out that Dr Langat was joining the company at a time when it was about to be privatised with the ownership expected to revert back to the dairy farmers.

Dr Langat is the immediate former Managing Director of Eastern African Tea Trade Association and has previously worked at Agricultural Development Corporation, Kenya Meat Commission and was also the CEO of Agricultural Society of Kenya.

He holds a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Nairobi, a Masters of Science from the University of Melbourne; and a Master of Business Administration from USIU.

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"His experience from a time he was involved in the preparation of the Strategic Plan for converting KCC into a parastatal will be very useful. His background as a veterinary doctor and also an animal production specialist will also be useful, especially as he interacts with dairy farmers," the minister observed.

Dr Langat will be supported by the firm\’s board headed by Chairman Matu Wamae whose contract was recently renewed. The management and the board will be expected to contribute significantly to the growth of the dairy industry.

"The dairy sector plays an important role especially in the rural areas.  It is expected to grow even further in the future, and a privatised, farmer owned New KCC will be expected to play a key role, not only in Kenya, but also in the region," said Mr Nyagah.

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