Igathe explains U-turn on Vivo Enegry role amid #BoycottVivoEnergy
Vivo Energy Managing Director Polycarp Igathe has explained his decision to quit his position 24 hours after he had said he would stay on until the election.
Mr Igathe, who has been tapped as Mike Sonko’s running mate for Nairobi governor, sent his resignation letter to Christian Chammas, group CEO of Vivo Energy, on Thursday which takes immediate effect.
“Granted my deep loyalty to VE and the nature of electioneering and electoral contests in Kenya it is in best interests of derisking VEK that I tender a resignation with immediate effect,” wrote Mr Igathe in the letter.
Mr Sonko and Mr Igathe will vie on Jubilee ticket, taking on incumbents Governor Evans Kidero and his deputy Jonathan Mueke.
BOYCOTT
Mr Igathe had on Tuesday told staff at Vivo Energy that he would stay on as MD until after the election.
“I will remain managing director of Vivo Energy Kenya until at least the election and, if successful would then leave Vivo Energy Kenya to become Deputy Governor of Nairobi,” Mr Igathe’s letter reads in part.
“Naturally I will need to spend some time campaigning for the next three months. I know that I will have the full support of the country leadership team to continue to manage the businesses while I am away,” he further wrote.
But that proved to be a gamble after a group of Kenyans started a hashtag on Twitter to boycott Vivo Energy, the operators of Shell petrol stations.
