Benson Wairegi
Benson I Wairegi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Kenya |
| Occupation(s) | Professional accountant, corporate leader |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Known for | Group Managing Director at Britam Holdings Plc |
Dr. Benson I Wairegi (born 1953) is a Kenyan professional accountant and corporate leader, currently holding the position of Group Managing Director at Britam Holdings Plc, a Nairobi-based financial services conglomerate. Under his guidance, Britam transformed from a modest insurance company into a multifaceted enterprise operating in seven countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Mozambique, and Malawi. The firm’s offerings encompass life insurance, general insurance, health coverage, retirement solutions, and real estate investment.
Career
Wairegi started his professional journey in 1977 at the age of 24 as an audit trainee with PriceWaterHouseCoopers. In 1980, he moved to British-American to take on the role of Chief Accountant. When a 1984 regulation mandated that foreign-owned insurance firms must divest at least 33.3% ownership to Kenyan citizens, Wairegi invested KSh600,000—funded through a mortgage on his residence—to purchase a 3.3% share in Britam and motivated other Kenyans to participate in the investment. That same year marked his appointment as CEO. By February 2014, his equity had increased significantly to KSh1.7 billion (approximately US$19 million), highlighting his pivotal contribution in evolving Britam into a prominent financial services group across the region.