NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 31 – Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria has appointed June Chepkemei as the new acting Managing Director (MD) of the Kenya Investment Authority (KENINVEST).
Chepkemei joins KENINVEST from the KonzaTechnopolis Development Authority (KOTDA) where she was the head of Marketing and Communications.
She is tasked with attracting and growing investments in the country from the current $500 million to $10 billion in December 2023.
KENINVEST promotes and facilitates domestic and foreign investment in Kenya by advocating a conducive investment environment, developing bankable investment opportunities, and offering aftercare services to investors.
The parastatal leverages Kenya’s strategic location as a regional financial, communication and transport hub, political and macro-stability, highly skilled human resource, and a vibrant capital market, in marketing the country as an investment hub.
Before joining KoTDA, Chepkemei served as Safaricom LTD Communications Business Partner after a six year stint in the media Industry.
She holds a master’s degree in Communications Studies from Moi University, a Bachelor’s Degree in PR & Communications from Moi University, Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Marketing from The Chartered Institute of Marketing of the UK and an executive certificate on Innovation from Stanford Centre For Professional Development.
In 2022, Chepkemei successfully led Kenya’s team in a fruitful bid to host the 41st International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) world conference slated for 2024.
She was also part of the team that was charged with delivering Technology and Innovation Jamhuri in 2022.
She also served as a member of the Taskforce on the Kenya Media Policy Guidelines, following her appointment by the Cabinet Secretary – ICT, Innovation, and Youth Affairs in 2021.
She was named among the Top 25 Women in Digital 2021.
June Pioneered the Konza Innovation Ecosystem Initiative that brings together various industry stakeholders to support the commercialization of Research, Innovation and the Development of new solutions and enterprises within Konza Technopolis.
The initiative was voted the 3rd Most inspiring solution by the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP). To date, over 100 enterprises have been launched through the initiative.
In 2017, the new MD was appointed as the Project Coordinator for a New Institute of Strategic National Importance: Kenya Advance Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) being developed by the Ministry of ICT & Digital Economy in partnership with The Ministry of Education (MoE).
