Simba Chai Sacco tops Governance Awards

CEO of Simba Chai Sacco, Mr. Wesley Ngeno (right) receives the Overall Champion of Governance Award from the Chairman of Central Bank of Kenya, Mr. Mohammed Nyaoga (left) during the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries Kenya (ICPSK) champion of governance award gala held recently in Nairobo. Looking on is the Institute’s Chairman Mr. Tom Omariba.

Simba Chai Sacco is the overall winner of the Champions of this year’s Governance Awards.

The annual event, which is in its seventh edition, is organised by the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya (ICPSK).

“I would like to thank my entire team for their tireless effort that they have put in place to ensure that we serve our customers better and indeed our efforts have today paid off,” said Simba Chai Sacco Chief Executive Officer Wesley Ngeno.

The award honours organisations and individuals that exhibit the highest standards of practice of good governance in line with ICPSK’s vision and mission.

Kenya Power Pension Fund that was last year’s overall winner came in second while Invest and Grow Investment Sacco was third.

NIC Bank won the finance and investment sector category while Centum Investment Company came in second, with ABC Bank taking the third position.

Simba Chai Sacco also scoped the top co-operative category, with Invest and Grow Investment Sacco taking second place and Safaricom Sacco coming in third.

Kenyatta University won the educational category while Kericho Water and Sanitation Company won the water Service category.

The Kenya Power Pension Fund was feted as the best Retired Benefits Board, with East African Re-insurance Company scooping the top prize in the insurance category.

Christ is The Answer Ministries was declared winner in the faith-based category.

A total of 39 companies enlisted for the event, with county-based companies taking centre-stage.

“This escalation of good governance will help improve accountability by employing systems to report, explain and be answerable for decisions made on behalf of citizenry and transparency to ensure the citizenry can clearly understand how and why decisions have been reached,” said Chairman Central Bank of Kenya Mohammed Nyaoga, who was the chief guest.

ICPSK chairman Tom Omariba urged organisations to embrace tenets of good governance as a way of ending corruption in public and private sectors.

“If we must end corruption, then we must ensure institutions operation ethically and transparently,” said Mr Omariba.