President William Ruto Tuesday arrived at the NSE bell-ringing ceremony 25 minutes early, catching top officials at the bourse unawares.
The head of state arrived at 8:20am, before his expected arrival time of 8:45am.
His early arrival left corporate Kenya titans, who were holed up in the fifth-floor waiting room, scrambling to get to the entrance of the building where Dr Ruto had disembarked from his vehicle.
An official portrait of President William Ruto is put up ahead of the launch of the Enhanced Nairobi Securities Exchange Marketplace on October 11, 2022.
He would be received by NSE chairman Kiprono Kittony who ushered him past a battery of journalists shielded by security men.
President William Ruto during a panel discussion with (from left) Olivia Rachier, Acting Managing Director, KenInvest, Stanley K. Kamau Ag. Director General, Public Investments and Portfolio Management Directorate and Kenya Development Corporation Director General Mr Christopher Huka on October 11, 2022.
In his speech, Mr Kittony thanked the head of state for making his maiden trip to the bourse very early on in his reign.
“The other historical thing apart from your Excellencies being here is I cannot remember the last time we’ve had a high-level function as this on time. I once visited Japan and I was told if you’re asked to attend a function at 9am, be there at quarter to nine,” he said.
President William Ruto receives a token of appreciation from Nairobi Securities Exchange chairman Kiprono Kittony (L) and NSE CEO Geoffrey Odundo (R) after the bell ringing ceremony to mark the launch of the Enhanced Nairobi Securities Exchange Marketplace on October 11, 2022.
“We expected your Excellency at quarter to nine, you were here at 8.3am so we were all running around the lift, and we almost broke our legs. If this is the way Kenya is going to go, there are two things business people like, one is time-keeping, and two, decisiveness. We like a yes or a no answer.”
He said a no answer is as good as a yes, because it helps business leaders save time.
High-profile guests
Front row: President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua (C) and KEPSA CEO Carole Kariuki (L) pose for a photo with pioneer trading participants of the current Nairobi Securities Exchange after the bell ringing ceremony to mark the launch of the Enhanced Nairobi Securities Exchange Marketplace on October 11, 2022.
Among the retinue of high-profile guests who have visited the exchange are the US trade secretary, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in the 1990s, late President Daniel arap Moi, twice hosted by the bourse including a month after his re-election to office in 1998, a parallel drawn by the Dyer & Blair chairman Jimnah Mbaru Dr Ruto’s visit to the trading floor comes 28 days after his election.
Former President Mwai Kibaki visited the exchange four times. BY DAILY NATION