KenInvest appoints June Chepkemei as its acting MD

By Phyllis MUCHOKI

Kenya Investment Authority (KENINVEST) has appointed June Chepkemei as its acting MD.

Until her appointment June Chepkemei was the  head of Marketing and Communications at the KonzaTechnopolis Development Authority (KOTDA).

She will be responsible for spearheading strategies meant to attract and grow investments to Kenya from the current USD500M to USD10B by end of 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 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.

In 2022, Ms Chepkemei  successfully led Kenya’s team in a fruitful bid to host the 41st International Association ofScience Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) world conference slated for 2024. She was also part of theteam that was charged with delivering Technology and Innovation Jamhuri in 2022.

June also served as a member of the Taskforce on the Kenya Media Policy Guidelines, following herappointment 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, June 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 Ministry of ICT & Digital Economy in partnership with The Ministry of Education (MoE).

Before joining KoTDA, June was the Communications Business Partner at Safaricom Limited, after a six yearstint in the media Industry where she rose through the ranks from an intern to become a Business News Editor, by the time she was leaving.

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. June is a Chartered Marketer by the Charted Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK.