Polycarp Igathe is a veteran Kenyan corporate executive, business tycoon, and a well-known politician. Currently, he works with Equity Group Holdings Plc serving as the Group’s Chief Commercial Officer.
Prior to his current position, Igathe had worked in high-profile positions on big companies in Kenya including Vivo Energy Africa. The tycoon had also worked with Equity before he resigned and comeback later.
In 2017, Mike Mbuvi Sonko appointed him as his running mate in the gubernatorial race. The duo made a perfect leadership couple, few months after clinching the gubernatorial seat Igathe resigned as the Deputy governor citing it was tough working with Mike Mbuvi.
After his resignation, Igathe is now back and ready to serve but this time as the Governor of Nairobi County. Igathe joins the crowded gubernatorial race facing the learned Senator Johnson Sakaja.
Polycarp Igathe Age and Place of Birth
The intelligent politician was born and raised in Ruiru, Kiambu county on 21st September 1972.
Polycarp Igathe Family
Igathe was not born into a rich family but a rich family came out of him through hard work and determination. Despite coming from an unknown family he has managed to set his name somewhere on the map.
Wife and Kids
Polycarp is a family man, married to one lovely lady by the name of Catherine Igathe, a Managing Director of AIG Kenya. The two have been blessed with three adorable kids.
Polycarp Igathe Education
He attended the University of Nairobi where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and sociology. In addition, he also has an Advanced Management Program (AMP)from IESE Business school in Spain.
Polycarp Igathe Net Worth
Judging from his work experience, Igathe is a loaded man with an estimated salary of Kes 200 million and above.
Career
Igathe began his career in 1995, after graduating from the University of Nairobi. He landed his first job in Australia serving as a finance officer at Queensland Health.
The former deputy governor worked with the company for six months before coming back to his roots. When he landed in Kenya he started working with Coca-Cola serving until 2000.
From Coca-Cola, Africa Online poached him and employed him as a sales and marketing manager. His straight leadership when it comes to management always landed him in a better position.
He was then employed by Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) serving as the sales operations manager and he was later promoted to marketing manager.
The soft-spoken businessman later landed a higher position, at Haco Industries serving as the managing director. He served in that position for a decade and it was one of the positions he held for such a long time.
In 2003, he moved to one of the biggest oil importers in Kenya, Vivo Energy Kenya where he served as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In addition, Igathe has served as the chair of several associations including, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers.
Furthermore, he has also chaired the Petroleum Institute of East Africa. Since 2010, he has been serving as the chairman and member of the Board of Management of Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls High School.
Between May 2018 and September 2018 he served as the Chief Commercial Officer of Equity Bank Kenya and he was later elevated to the Managing director position before resigning.
Having left the company in good faith in 2020 Equity Group Holding announced they had hired him to serve as the Chief Commercial Officer.
Political Career
Igathe has always been behind the scenes when it came to politics until 2017 when he was appointed as the running mate of the Nairobi gubernatorial seat.
Igathe is a kind of leader who doesn’t take pressure from anyone, a few months after taking winning the gubernatorial seat he decided to step down as the deputy governor.
Five years down the line Igathe has made his return and he has declared his bid to run for the gubernatorial race, where many think he is a state project due to his late entry into the race.
Since joining the race, tension has been on the rise in the Jubilee Camp since his competitor in the same party feels like Igathe is being favored and he might be given a direct ticket.