Appointment of KAA head raises profile of PhD chiefs

New KAA managing director Lucy Mbugua. Photo/FILE 

By SIMON CIURI

In Summary

• Ms Mbugua, who has been acting MD at the authority since August last year, is pursuing a doctorate degree in strategic business management at Moi University.

 

The appointment of Lucy Mbugua as managing director of Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has deepened the number of chief executives either pursuing or have PhD degrees in corporate Kenya.

Ms Mbugua, who has been acting MD at the authority since August last year, is pursuing a doctorate degree in strategic business management at Moi University.

She joins the new Kenya Pipeline Company head, Charles Tanui, who holds an MBA from Moi University and has completed course work for his PhD in Business Management.

They will join CEOs who are steering companies with doctorate degrees like Ben Chumo (Kenya Power), Gachao Kiuna (TransCentury), Kipkurui arap Langat (New KCC), Edward Odundo, (Retirement Benefits Authority) and Nyambura Koigi (Postbank).

READ: PhD chief executives take charge in Kenyan firms

“Ms Mbugua emerged as the best candidate from over 50 candidates after an intensive interview process,” said Prof Mutuma Mugambi, chair of KAA board.

Ms Mbugua, who has been acting MD at the authority since August, will shepherd the Sh55.9 billion expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to cement its status as a regional commercial hub.

The new terminal will be able to handle 20 million passengers when completed, three times the existing passenger flow through the airport, whose arrivals hall was gutted by a blaze in August.

Even before the August fire, JKIA, built in the 1970s to handle 2.5 million passengers annually, was struggling to handle more than six million people a year.

Management experts reckon the quest for doctorate degrees in the corner office is driven by quest for intellectual satisfaction.