Career Biography and Achievements

Fred’s career demonstrates the power of legal leadership beyond the legal department, using law as a strategic tool to create certainty, influence policy and safeguard long-term enterprise value. 

With more than two decades of experience across legal practice, regulation and corporate leadership, he has built a strong reputation for navigating complex issues, shaping the external environment and delivering outcomes that create lasting commercial value. 

As Director of Regulatory & Public Policy at Safaricom PLC, Fred leads the company’s regulatory, competition, public policy and stakeholder engagement agenda.  His work brings together law, policy and business strategy, enabling Safaricom to influence policy outcomes, manage regulatory risk and pursue growth in a complex operating environment.   

A defining recent achievement was his leadership of Safaricom’s engagement on the revision of the Telecommunications Market Structure by the Communications Authority, culminating in the award of Safaricom’s landmark 25-year telecommunications operating licence in July.  This outcome provides long-term regulatory certainty and creates a platform for continued purpose led investment, innovation and national digital transformation. 

He also played a key role in securing a submarine cable landing rights licence and advancing Universal Service Fund initiatives, aligning Safaricom’s strategic priorities with Kenya’s broader digital inclusion agenda. 

Fred has guided Safaricom through major regulatory and policy developments across telecommunications, technology and financial services, including competition regulation, mobile money, artificial intelligence, spectrum management and digital infrastructure.  His approach combines rigorous legal analysis with practical business judgement, enabling constructive engagement with industry and policymakers while safeguarding Safaricom’s commercial interests. 

During his tenure as Acting Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Fred provided broader leadership across legal and secretarial services, sustainability and social investment, and reputation management.  He strengthened relationships with regulators, Parliament and the Judiciary, helping to build trust, improve regulatory responsiveness and position Safaricom as a constructive partner in national development. 

Fred has led the evolution of Safaricom’s Regulatory & Public Policy department into a more strategic, insights-driven and commercially aligned function.  The department now plays a stronger role in anticipating external developments, supporting executive decision-making and working collaboratively with industry, regulators and communities to shape the markets in which the company operates. 

An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Commissioner for Oaths, Fred is recognised as one of East Africa’s leading regulatory and public policy professionals.  He has been recognised in the Legal 500 GC Powerlist East Africa and served on the inaugural board of the African Corporate and General Counsel Forum, reflecting his contribution to in-house legal leadership across the continent.  He has also served as a juror in the Nairobi Legal Awards Jury from 2020-2024.