Daniel Kiptoo: From Rugby Player to EPRA Boss

Little-known Energy and Power Regulations Authority (EPRA) Director General, Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, is the man on the hot seat in the wake of unprecedent fuel prices. 

Born on February 17, 1984, the EPRA DG is described as a consummate energy professional, with vast knowledge in electricity and petroleum.

Daniel Kiptoo boasts of experience in the Energy and Petroleum sectors with a specific focus in policy formulation, regulation, and project & structured financing.

He is one of the drafters of the Energy Act (2019) and Petroleum Act (2019).

However, before joining the energy sector, he was a profilic rugby player.

Daniel Kiptoo rugby career.

The former Kenya Simba’s team captain Daniel Kiptoo enjoyed an illustrious career for club and country during his thirteen-year playing stint.

He won the Kenya Cup with Kenya Harlequin in the years 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012 where he was a prop forward.

Additionally, he bagged three Enterprise Cups in 2003, 2009 and 2011. He also won the now obsolete Rugby Super Series in 2003, 2007,2009,2010,2011 and 2012 with the Rhinos.

During his stint as a permanent fixture for the Kenya Simbas, they won the Africa Cup in 2011, six Elgon Cups in 2004,2007,2008,2009,2010 and 2011.

The rugby team consisting of Daniel Kiptoo also won the 2010 Victoria Cup before he hung up his boots and switched careers.

Dan Kiptoo Education Background 

The EPRA D.G is a lawyer by profession, with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Nairobi. He later pursued a post graduate diploma at the Kenya School of Law (KSL) to secure admission to the bar and become and advocate of the High Court. 

He proceeded to the University of Dundee, a public university in Scotland, for his Master of Laws (LLM) specializing in Petroleum Law and Policy.

Additionally, he has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Cumbria, a higher learning institution nestled in the United Kingdom.

Furthermore, he has completed several executive courses such as Executive Certificate in Public Policy, Infrastructure in a Market Economy and Strategic Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies from the highly sought after Harvard Kennedy School in the USA.

He is currently pursuing a PhD from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy from his alum, the University of Dundee.

Daniel Kiptoo’s Career.

He worked in the private sector with an Africa centric oil & gas risk consultancy as the oil & gas legal affairs director.

Additionally, he worked with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in the Legal department owing to his legal background.

 Later, he served as the legal advisor in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.

At the Ministry, he was the Chairman of the Government’s First Oil Committee charged with delivery of first oil for Kenya.

Also Read: EPRA Increases Fuel Prices; Petrol, Diesel, Cross Ksh200 Mark

Furthermore, he represented Kenya in several Investor-State Arbitrations and was a member of two task forces on Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

On 8th July 2022, Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) for his outstanding contribution in the energy sector in Kenya.

He took over from Pavel Oimeke on June 28, 2021. However, he had been EPRA’s Acting Director General since December 2020 following the controversial exit of his predecessor.

Kiptoo’s first term will lapse in 2024.  He however holds out the hope that he could secure a second term which will allow him at least seven years at the top seat of the energy regulator.