- On October 3rd, 2025, Kenyan readers and financial sector enthusiasts welcomed a remarkable new autobiography by Philip Kinisu titled The Interrupted Accountant.
- Kinisu stands as a towering figure in African accounting, boasting a career of over three decades across Kenya and the United Kingdom.
- At the height of his career, the former University of Nairobi student audited the estate of Queen Elizabeth II, served as Chairman of the Africa Board of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and helped shape corporate governance across the continent.
- While meticulously documenting his life, the autobiography offers a glimpse into the rarefied and fiercely contested world of corporate influence, power, and prestige.
In one of the chapters, Mr. Kinisu recounts his first intimate brush with the trappings of state power, an experience that, by his own admission, left a lasting impression.
In 2011, during a critical period when he was relentlessly promoting the PwC brand across Kenya and the wider region, Kinisu was involved in a high-stakes strategic battle to prevent the PwC Africa Central domain from being merged with PwC South Africa.
It was during this intense professional period that Dennis Nally, then PwC Executive Global Chairman, visited Kenya.
What unfolded during this visit was an extraordinary confluence of corporate prestige and state grandeur. Nally was treated as a state guest, complete with security escorts and an in-person audience with then-President Mwai Kibaki.
Mr. Kinisu was privileged to ride in the limousine that would carry Nally through Nairobi’s bustling streets.
Seated in the back, Kinisu was enveloped by the extraordinary perks of state power: armed security flanking the vehicle, cleared roads, and the unmistakable aura of authority throughout the short trip.
Witnessing firsthand the respect, control, and privileges afforded by the state apparatus, Kinisu gained a new appreciation for the allure of political power.
“No wonder politicians cling to power!” writes Kinisu.
This episode is emblematic of Kinisu’s autobiography, which includes professional triumphs, personal reflections, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of power and influence that few get to see.
For readers, it is an invitation to step into the shoes of a man who navigated the highest echelons of global finance with an extraordinary understanding of the subtle intersections between power and human ambition.
Book Purchase Details
The captivating autobiography is now available in bookstores across Kenya, with convenient online purchasing options also available.
Alternatively, make a payment of KSh 2,800 via M-PESA Paybill 600100, Account Number 108142 (Free Press Publishers Ltd.).
You will receive a call to confirm delivery instructions, and your copy will be delivered within 24 hours.
For inquiries, contact the publisher at info@freepresspublishers.com.
