Eliud Kipchoge, DPP Noordin Haji listed among top 50 African disruptors

Four Kenyans are among 50 personalities across the continent listed by a leading publication for their efforts in transforming their various fields.

According to the Africa Report, the 50 personalities, among them politicians, athletes, journalists, and business barons, “are changing the rules of the game – some for better and others for worse.”

The publication also credited the individuals with “shaking up the status quo, asking uncomfortable questions, upending business models and fighting preconceptions.”

Leading the Kenyan team – at position 25 on the list – is Twiga Foods CEO Peter Njonjo who earned his spot by establishing one of Kenya’s most successful startups in recent times.

“The company uses a technology-enabled B2B platform to source products from 17,000 farmers across 20 Kenyan counties and deliver them directly to 2,500 vendors per day in Nairobi and its environs,” read the report.

“It is now expanding into fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), and targets continental expansion by the third quarter of 2020, starting with French speaking West Africa, and then Nigeria.”

Next up – listed at 26 – is track record holder Eliud Kipchoge who stunned the world in October last year when he became the first human being to run a marathon in under two hours.

Even though this feat was not recognized by the IAAF, Kipchoge stamped his name in the Guinness Book of World Records for ‘Fastest marathon distance (male)’ and ‘First marathon distance under two hours’.

The third Kenyan, and 37^th on the continent, is Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji who has gained public gratification for his tough stance on corruption.

“The director of public prosecutions orchestrated the July 2019 arrest of the country’s finance minister, Henry Rotich, on suspicion of financial misconduct, which Rotich denies; 27 other government officials were also charged,” said Africa Report.

“Rotich was the first sitting cabinet member to be charged with financial misconduct in the country’s history. Dozens of current and former public officials have been charged and more than 300 prosecutors have had their appointments revoked.”

Coming in at position 47 out of 50, and fourth in Kenya, is Dalberg Advisors Global Managing Partner Edwin Macharia who “a is responsible for innovating across the whole group” and has previously also worked at the Clinton Foundation.

Other notable African personalities on the list are Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Nigerian tycoon Aliko Dangote, Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli and Uganda’s musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine.