Who are Utility Partners Limited
UPL was founded on the premise that the region has now reached a point of inflection where there is sufficient skill and knowledge within the engineering, finance and legal space to drive transformative growth. UPL, therefore, aims to develop transformative projects that will attract the international and domestic funding required to create a 21st century Africa.
Vision: To transform the water and power sectors in the region.
Mission: Develop bankable projects that blend technology, innovation and financial skills.
Dr. Kenneth Namunje
Chairman
Dr. Namunje is a heart surgeon by training. He was the driver of the foundation of a specialized Heart Clinical Centre at the Aga Khan Teaching Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Experiencing first-hand the dire development needs of Kenya he diversified into the world of business determined to be a catalyst for change. He was a founding Director of Craftskills Wind Energy International Limited; the Developers of Kipeto Energy Limited a 100 MW Wind renewable wind energy project in Kajiado Kenya. (In a JDA partnership with GE Energy).
He is also part of an effort to further catalyze the development of the water & power sector by supporting both individual projects as well as the wider-ranging institutional dialogue about building an enabling environment.
Dr. Namunje is the Chairman of Kipeto Energy, Director of ICRAF, Global Evergreen Alliance as well as the Nairobi Outpatient Centre (NOC).
It was his inspiration that led to the founding of Utility Partners Limited.
Dr. Namunje holds a degree in Medicine from the University of Nairobi and a specialization in heart surgery from the University of Cape Town.
Andrew Muigai
Managing Partner
Andrew G. Muigai is an engineer and project management consultant. Trained as a civil engineer, he has 30+ years extensive experience and exposure in engineering design, procurement management, construction supervision and project management on large engineering works in the water sector.
In particular, he played a key role on the project management team of the Third Nairobi Water Supply Project (1990-99). This was a USD 600 million project financed by World Bank, European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank consisting of a dam, tunnels, reservoirs, water and sewerage treatment works, transmission and distribution lines – which augmented water supply to Nairobi City by 645,000 m3/day. His specific roles included: supervising engineering consultants; evaluating and recommending payment certificates, variations and claims; representing the client in progress meetings with international contractors; interfacing with Government (Treasury) and Financiers.
He has also undertaken research on alternative solutions for infrastructure management and financing for Kenya and Africa. In addition, he has worked as an engineering and project management consultant with UNICEF, World Bank, Care Kenya, China Electric Power Technology Corp; and as a management consultant with PTA Bank (Eastern & Southern African Trade & Development Bank).
He has in-depth knowledge and experience of the Kenya water sector and its institutions- where he has worked at both technical and board roles. In particular, he has served as a senior engineer with Nairobi City Water Department (predecessor of Nairobi Water Company) and as a director of the Water Resources Authority (WRA; 2010-13) and has been a director and Chairman of Karuri Water and Sanitation Company (2008-date).
In addition, has served in board positions in various public and private organisations including: National Social Security Fund (NSSF- Trustee of USD 2 billion fund); KIRDI (Kenya Industrial Research & Development Institute, Director); EcoTourism Kenya (Chairman); Kenya Tourism Federation (Director).
His education and professional qualifications include: Bachelor in Science- Civil Engineering (University of Nairobi); Post Graduate Diploma, Procurement Management (Turin, Italy); Post Graduate Certificate, Project Planning Appraisal & Financing, University of Bradford, UK; Registered Engineer, Engineers Registration Board of Kenya.
Simon Mwacharo Guyo
Partner
Simon Mwacharo Guyo has a lot of experience in engineering and electronics and has been spearheading the research and development of the wind turbine technology and auxiliary electronics devices.
He is the founder of Craftskills. He provides the organization with administrative leadership. Simon is self-taught engineer is the inventor of the WindCruiser wind power machine. He has extensive experience in wind energy installations all over Kenya; so far having himself built and installed several units. He holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the Kenyatta University, Nairobi. He has over 20 years’ experience in publishing at the United Bible Societies, computer applications, hardware setup, networks, web and software development.
The WindCruiser system a (small wind turbine manufactured by Craftskills Engineering Ltd) is patented by him and he has built and installed over 100 turbines, towers and solar hybrid system to power homes, public and private facilities, boreholes all over Africa. He is in charge of quality control and assurance for the affordable locally manufactured SWT system.
Simon is also a Director in Craftskills Wind Energy International Ltd (CWEIL). CWEIL is a local developer of larger wind power projects. The Kipeto 100MW Simon is a Director at Kipeto Energy PLC (KEP) is in charge of Local stakeholder engagements, technical designs, Data collection and analysis and land acquisitions for the over 100 square kilometres wind farm footprint and transmission line to Isinya 220KV substation. Simon owns over 3% of KEP 100MW power project.
Simon is a Partner at Utility Partners One LLP which is developing a water project in the Coast of Kenya.
Simon is the sole proprietor of Abba Earthmovers Limited a construction company stationed in Voi town and brings in great experience and investment.
Onchera Maiko (Onchi)
Partner
Onchi is an investments’ practicing professional with over 30 years’ experience and expertise in developing strategy and integrating this with financial and investment analysis. His managerial experience includes an understanding of the institutional arrangements, implementation management and the critical negotiating skills required to bring this to a sustainable framework that enables financial close. Organizations he recently worked for include Kipeto Energy a 100 MW wind power project as CEO/Turnaround Executive to bring to Financial Close, Regional Head Investment Banking for KCB Capital and Co-Lead of an Infrastructure Investment Platform for a JV by Fieldstone-Prescient based in RSA. Previous to that he was General Manager Investments for British American Asset Managers and with UBS Investment Management based in New York City. He was also part of a consulting team working for the IFC on behalf of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that looked at institutional arrangements required to support attracting private capital to water and sanitation sector. He also brings the diverse experience of having worked in North America, Europe and large parts of Sub Saharan Africa.
Onchi has also worked on reforming the institutional and knowledge space required to support an enabling environment for private funding. In this role he has been Advisor to the Governor of Central Bank of Kenya on Financial Markets Development, Practicing Investment Professional Adjunct Professor on Investments at Wits Business School in 2009-2011 and an invited lecturer for the Duke University Executive MBA program.
He worked with Tony Mwaruwa on a water-agricultural business in Taita-Taveta and that was basis of decision to jointly start Utility Partners Limited.
Onchi holds a BSc. (Economics) from the University of Zimbabwe, an MBA in Finance from Cass School of Business in London, England, an MA in Applied Finance & Econometrics from the University of California. He is also a Member of the CFA Institute and a Fellow of the Global Association of Risk Professionals.
Onchi holds dual USA and Kenyan citizenships.