Co-operative Bank of Kenya Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Gideon Muriuki was the highest paid corporate staff in Kenya in 2023.
Muriuki earned Ksh455.5 million, a daily average earning of Ksh1.25 million in 2023.
The CEO has cemented his position as the highest paid corporate boss topping the list for the third consecutive year.
Dr Muriuki has over 33 years’ experience in banking and finance and has served at Co-operative Bank since 1996 under different capacities.
He joined the Bank in 1996 as a Senior Corporate Manager then became Director, Corporate and Institutional Banking in 1999.
In 2001, he was appointed the Managing Director (MD) in 2001 to help return the Bank into profitable trading.
As MD, Muriuki has presided over the Bank’s turnaround from a massive loss position of Ksh2.3 billion in 2000 to a profit before tax of Ksh22.6 billion in 2021.
He is a director of Kingdom Securities Limited and Vice President Africa-International Co-operative Banking Alliance (ICBA).
Besides, he is a former Chairperson Governing Council of the Africa International University and former Chairperson, African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA).
Gideon Muriuki Awards
He was decorated in 2005 with the award of Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) and award of the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) in 2011.
In recognition of his successful turnaround of the Band and exemplary service to the nation, he was awarded Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear first class (CBS) in 2017.
Beyond his achievements in the banking sector, Dr Muriuki has made significant contributions to the development of rural finance in Africa.
This saw him receive the Chevalier de L’orde National du Burkina Faso from the President of Burkina Faso.
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Additionally, Muriuki is a recipient of the Lion of Judah Award by Evangelical Alliance of Kenya and Mtumishi Bora Grand Award by the Kenya Christian Professionals Forum.
He received the two awards in 2016 for his great servant leadership as a committed Christian leader in the marketplace.
He was voted CEO of the year Africa 2014 by the International Banker and awarded the Best Banking CEO Kenya in 2018 by the International Finance.
Gideon Muriuki was awarded Banking CEO of The Year by EMEA Finance – African Banking Awards, 2021.
Co-operative Bank Growth & Achievements
The great successes of the Co-operative Bank under his leadership have enabled the Bank to win key awards over the last two decades.
Co-operative was the Overall Winner of Sustainable Finance Catalyst Award of the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) in 2017, 2019 and 2022.
Besides, the Co-op Bank subsidiary company Co-optrust Investments Services won the Best Asset Manager in Kenya in 2021.
Co-operative also won the Best Bank in Kenya award in the African Banking Awards 2020 organized by EMEA Finance for four years in a row (2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021).
The Bank was also the Overall Winner in Environmental Sustainability Reporting at the 2019 East African.
Also Read: How and Why Kenyan Banks Are Consistently Making Profits
Education & Background
Gideon Muriuki was born in Mung’aria village, Tetu, Nyeri County, on September 1, 1964.
He attended Kaigonde Primary School, Kiganjo Primary School, and Kagumo High School, where he obtained his ‘O’ Level and ‘A’ Level certificates.
Muriuki furthered his studies at the University of Nairobi, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1988.
He has received several honorary doctorates from universities for his contributions to banking and the co-operative sector.
Muriuki was conferred an honorary doctorate in Business Management in 2011 by Kabarak University.
This was followed by a Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) –DLitt from the African International University and Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letter from the Co-operative University of Kenya both in 2022.
He was recognized with ‘Distinguished Leadership Award’ by Africa International University in July 2011.
