Former Safaricom chief executive officer Michael Joseph has come out to explain why he has decided to quit Safaricom after 23 years of playing different roles in the company.

Joseph has disclosed that he left after self- conviction that holding the position of director at Safaricom board that he was holding was not the best thing for him.

“There is a new chairman of the board and new members, and perhaps this ia not the right time for me to be there,” he said.

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Mr. Joseph went on to share that he is an individual who prefers to take charge and make decisions, which was no longer possible in that position.

“There is a new chairman, new board members and maybe this is a good time to step down. I am not really a good board material, I am a CEO type of person, I like being in charge,” Joseph said in an interview with a local newspaper.

“I am not the kind of person that likes to take direction or waits for guidance and as a director, I feel a little restrained.

Joseph also dismissed claims that he had been forced out of Safaricom board.

“I was definitely not forced out. It was my own choice and the chairman, the CEO, other board members and the government wanted me to stay longer for sure. I notified President Ruto out of courtesy,” he said .

“There’s never a right time to leave a company of this nature especially given my involvement with the company from the very beginning and I could stay on for another 10 years to be honest but I just think that at some point your value diminishes and I am not a great board person. I can do a lot more off the board than on it. Forcing me out of Safaricom would take more than this.”

Joseph disclosed that his replacement would come from Vodacom has he was representing Vodacom in the Safaricom board.

“When I resigned as board chairman, I becamed a nominated director of Vodacom representing Vodacom. That means my replacement will also come from Vodacom to represent Vodacom.”