September - 2019

52 / BUSINESS / Interview BUSINESS / 53
WORLD
CHAMPION
A short spell as Minister of Trade and Industry was all
DR MUKHISA KITUYI needed to transform Kenya’s
fortunes. Now that he’s Secretary-General of UNCTAD
for a second term, the world is in his sights.
text Morris Kiruga
Passport
Born
1956 in Bungoma, western Kenya
Education
Admitted to the University of Nairobi in
1977, expelled in 1979
Completed a degree there in Political
Science and International Relations in 1982
MPhil Development Studies (1986) and
Doctorate in Social Anthropology (1989),
University of Bergen.
Work
Executive Director, FORD Kenya (1992)
MP for Kimilili Constituency, Opposition
Chief Whip, Chair of Defence and Foreign
Affairs Committee (1992-2007)
Convener of agriculture negotiations at the
WTO’s Sixth Ministerial Conference (2005)
Minister of Trade and Industry (2002-2007)
Chief Executive of Kenya Institute of
Governance (2008)
Consultant for the African Union Commission
(2011-2012)
Fellow at The Brookings Institution in
Washington, D.C. (2012)
Secretary-General of UNCTAD (2013-2021)
DR KITUYI is a passionate man
with a clear view and a laser focus. He
knows what the world’s problems are,
what the world needs and how to make it
happen. He may have only been Minister
of Trade and Industry for five years, but
those years radically changed how Kenya
trades with the world: it’s now an economic
giant. And so, when Dr Kituyi’s
appointment as leader of the United
Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD) was reported,
it came as little surprise to most Kenyans,
for his exploits had already etched him
into the country’s folklore.
DR YES
They say never meet your heroes
because they will always disappoint you;
but, during our long conversation, which
Dr Kituyi almost missed his lunch for, I
discover that statement to be inaccurate.
Kenya’s son in Geneva is not only the
real deal, he’s in the right place and
thriving, and it shows.
“Of course, I miss Nairobi,” he says.
“Geneva has a different social rhythm
and a fairly high cost of living.” It’s
hardly surprising that a conversation
with one of the world’s most renowned
trade experts, who’s a staunch defender
of multilateralism, will veer quickly into
trade and economics. Even when he compares
the two cities, it’s just a precursor to
a review of just how countries can make
life better for their people. When I ask
him about Kenya Airways’ new Nairobi-
Geneva route, for example, he first talks
about what it means for both economies.
“This route gives an opportunity for the
Swiss market to know that Kenyan roses
are actually from Kenya,” he says. “And it
will save tourists and UN staff the time
and hassle of connecting flights.”
Dr Kituyi sees the world in terms
of tariffs and the cost of living, and his
primary focus is what developing countries
need to do in the 21st century.
Coming from anyone else, his arguments
might sound pretentious, but Dr Kituyi’s
plan for improving how the world trades
is well-grounded.
FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE
Born in Bungoma, western Kenya in
1956, the bespectacled academic lived
many lives on his journey to becoming
Secretary-General. He was a student
leader, a role that led to his expulsion
from the University of Nairobi in >