Vivo Management Still Panicking about Jeopardized Brand


While there has been pomp and fanfare over the selection of Polycarp Igathe as the running mate for Senator Mike Sonko’s gubernatorial bid, Vivo Energy is suffering immediate brand backlash following the stunt Sonko pulled of visiting its offices to introduce his choice for deputy governor.
In a letter dated Tuesday May 16 to the staff members at Vivo Energy, Polycarp Igathe stated:
"I have been invited by the Jubilee Party to stand alongside Hon. Mike Sonko Mbuvi as his running mate during the August 8 elections. I discussed the invitation to run for public office with Christian Chammas. Christian has given me his full support and I am excited about the opportunity to move into a political career,"

Chammas, the Vivo Energy CEO for Africa and chairman of Vivo Mauritius, has however been left with a dilemma that despite his goodwill towards his employee, the stunt Sonko pulled of coming to their offices while taking pictures with staff will make the company look politically aligned while Multinational Corporations are always keen to maintain a neutral image of supporting any government in power.
A dilemma particularly arises from Senator Sonko’s revelation on the Jeff Koinange Live (JKL) show that he receives free fuel from well wishers. This is likely to expose the deep connections Vivo had with the politician prior to the selection of Mr. Igathe.   
Vivo Energy manages The Shell Petrol stations country wide and it is one of the country’s most sought-after fuel and lubricant brands. It also operates an extensive retail network, major bulk oil storage terminals in Nairobi and Mombasa therefore it has a keen interest in the development of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
The company also operates aviation services at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Wilson Airport, Mombasa International Airport and Malindi Airport; and has a lubricants blending plant in Mombasa. Mr. Igathe initially revealed that he will not completely give up his position as the company's Kenyan director until after the elections if Sonko clinches the Nairobi Governors seat.
While this has been interpreted by mainstream media as a way to give him a soft landing in the event of a loss the agenda is to have somebody who can tame Sonko as the SGR moves into a new phase following the securing of fund by President Uhuru Kenyatta in China this week.
Sonko is viewed as an unreliable and unstable politician who is a perennial extortionist who might jeopardise SGR operations by adding costs to a project that is already very high. Meanwhile Vivo has unfortunately paid the immediate price of an open dalliance with Sonko via its MD Polycarp Igathe.

However, the immediate brand backlash against Vivo Energy forced him to resign so as to be fully committed to the Igathe-Sonko campaign ticket plus watch over the slash fund it has made available to Jubilee.

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