Advertisement

Devout KCB Rwanda chief who loves to pray

Friday September 30 2016
maurice

Maurice Toroitich, the managing director of KCB Rwanda, has lived in Kigali for eight years and says he now feels more Rwandan than Kenyan. PHOTO | CYRIL NDEGEYA

Maurice Toroitich, 46, managing director of KCB Rwanda, has lived in Kigali for eight years and says he now feels more Rwandan than Kenyan.

He was born, raised and went to school in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, the home of Kenya’s athletics. He later on attended Moi Kabarak High School where he sat for his “A” levels and went on to the University of Nairobi where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting. He further got an MBA from the Strathmore Business School in Nairobi.

His first job was in an oil company as an accountant and within a short time he discovered accounts was not his passion and began looking out for a job in banking.

He began as a management trainee at the age of 24 and rose through the ranks. Today, he is a career banker and has won several awards and received recognition in the various roles he has held in retail and corporate banking, branch management.

In 2004 while working for Stanbic, he won the Annual Service Excellence award of the entire Standard Bank Group. He was one of the African winners of that time.
He worked for Standard Bank Group for 15 years before moving to KCB in 2008 and was tasked with setting up the Rwanda subsidiary.

He moved to Rwanda with his family. His children — four boys aged 21, 20, 16 and 11 years— studied in boarding schools in Kenya over the years but holidayed in Rwanda. The family transition was not a big deal because his wife was self-employed and she set up a business for herself in Kigali.

Advertisement

Toroitich loves travelling to new places and has travelled widely around Rwanda. His foreign travels have taken him to all the East African countries, South Africa, Egypt, the UK, France, Spain, China, and Singapore.

----------------------------------------

What is your off-duty passion?

I am passionate about leadership. I teach people leadership with an emphasis on equality.

The other thing I am passionate about is physical fitness. I enjoy going to the gym, and taking walks because they get me out in the open.

If you hadn’t turned into who you are now, what would you be?

I probably would have been an accountant. But if I had not gone to school back then, I would have been an athlete owing to the fact that I was born in a community that is gifted in running. Since I love art and drawing, I really wanted to study architecture but I was not good enough in physics — which was a requirement. But now one of my sons is an architect.

What signifies your personal style, and how do you manage your wardrobe?

I like simple and smart because that’s how I like to present myself. I don’t like anything flashy so I try different things. I use what I have in versatile ways since my wardrobe is not so extensive. I tend to mix the suit, tie, socks and shoes to present a slightly different look everyday. As you can see I am not of average height so I use a tailor for custom-made suits for a proper fit.

When in East Africa, where are you most likely to be whiling away your time on a Saturday afternoon?

I will probably be doing something outdoors. Although I am not an avid golfer, one of my sons is, so when he is around on holiday he gets me to play a round of golf with him at the Nyarutarama Golf Course. I also belong to a prayer group and I occasionally spend Saturday afternoons praying with them. I could also just be sleeping to unwind from the hectic work week.

Describe your best destination yet in East Africa?

Malindi on Kenya’s North Coast. I always wonder how those who live there go to work daily in such a laid-back, perfect holiday destination. Everything about the town feels like a holiday — from the climate, and environment — the attitude of the people. However, it is all these factors that make it my best destination. Depending on your budget, you can afford a perfect holiday.

Anywhere on your must-visit list?

I would love to visit Cambodia because of its history of genocide, which is almost similar to that of Rwanda. The country has risen from the ashes of war, transformed itself and built a strong economy. Its tourism industry is big but not as exotic as one would expect I think the history of the country makes it worth visiting.

What do you see as East Africa’s greatest strength?

The people. We are very resourceful, enterprising, well-educated, exposed and polite. We all have different cultures but generally East Africans are friendly.

What is your best collection?

The obvious one is the photographs because I love photography, which comes to me naturally. I actually love art. You will definitely find pieces of art around my home. The other is my jazz music because it is suitable for every mood.

What’s the most thoughtful gift you have received?

A rosary from one of my staff. I don’t think you can buy a religious gift for someone without having thought deeply about them. The person must have taken time to know me well in order to give me a gift I consider priceless.

What’s the best gift you have given?

I will say a book. It was actually a cookbook and you don’t give these as presents all the time. I gave it to a couple who were getting married and I think they still use it.

Your last great read?

Why Smart Executives Fail by Sidney Finkelstein. More often than not we read about success stories of executives but we rarely hear stories of those who failed and why. The book is not about what they did but what happened to them.

Which movie had an impact on you?

The classic musical Sound of Music about a poor girl, Maria von Trapp, who uses faith to triumph over adversity.

What’s your favourite music?

Jazz and classical stuff. I discovered this late in life and I am a firm believer that you grow into your likes.

What’s never missing from your fridge?

Fruits of all kinds. I eat a lot of fruits before meals and then eat very little at meal time. By the time dinner is ready I eat very little.

Advertisement