Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General, Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, together with the Kenya Pipeline CEO Joe Sang and Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohammed Liban, were arrested on April 2 over a fuel scandal. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, DCI, arrested the energy chiefs in a swoop over a manufactured fuel shortage and adulteration. Who is Daniel Kiptoo? Here is the profile of a man who once played rugby before becoming EPRA boss.
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 on policy formulation, regulation, and project & structured financing.
He is one of the drafters of the Energy Act (2019) and Petroleum Act (2019).
Daniel 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 postgraduate diploma at the Kenya School of Law (KSL) to secure admission to the bar and become an advocate of the High Court.
He proceeded to the University of Dundee, a public university in Scotland, to pursue a Master of Laws (LLM) in Petroleum Law and Policy.
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Additionally, he holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Cumbria, a higher education institution in the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, he has completed several executive courses, including Executive Certificate in Public Policy, Infrastructure in a Market Economy, and Strategic Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies, from the highly regarded Harvard Kennedy School in the USA.
Daniel Kiptoo is currently pursuing a PhD from the Center for Energy, Petroleum, and Mineral Law and Policy at his alma mater, the University of Dundee.
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, Daniel Kiptoo was the Chairman of the Government’s First Oil Committee charged with the delivery of the first oil for Kenya.
Also Read: EPRA Boss Kiptoo, Petroleum PS Liban Arrested
Furthermore, he represented Kenya in several Investor-State Arbitrations and served on 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.
Rugby career
Before joining the energy sector, he was a prolific rugby player.
The former Kenya Simba’s team captain enjoyed an illustrious career for club and country during his thirteen-year playing stint.
Daniel Kiptoo 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 and six Elgon Cups in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.
The rugby team, which also included Daniel Kiptoo, won the 2010 Victoria Cup before he hung up his boots and switched careers.
