Davis & Shirtliff, the region's leading water and energy equipment supplier is celebrating its 75th Anniversary, a major milestone in its corporate history. This is a most unusual achievement for any organisation, though especially one that has the same family shareholding and essentially the same market focus since its founding.
Inspired by the ultra-modern new Distribution Center recently unveiled at Tatu City Kenya, D&S Zambia has broken ground on a similar project in Lusaka on Luanshya Road near the existing D&S premises.
D&S Head Office on Dundori Road in Nairobi's Industrial Area recently experienced considerable fire damage that was caused by a conflagration at a neighbouring company specializing in tyre manufacture. Managing Director Dr MAS Waweru, Commercial Director Edward Davis and HR Manager Stephen Angila rushed to the scene in the early hours to direct critical fire-fighting efforts to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading through D&S's 9,000 square meter complex of buildings.
D&S Voi was established several years ago and recently, under the diection of Coast GM Mohamed Farook and Branch Executive Margaret Kuchio has been relocated to a more prominent position in the town. Voi, a historic town in the expansive Taita-Taveta County, is a well-established tourism hub with its most notable feature being the nearby vast Tsavo National park.
Dr MAS Waweru, or 'Daktari' as he is affectionately known within the D&S family will in June retire from the company with full honours after an exemplary and unblemished twenty-nine year career. Currently the Managing Director of Kenya, he previously served as the first ever Chief Operations Officer, having previously been Commercial Director.
Dayliff, the brand of Davis & Shirtliff, can trace its origins back to the 1970s when it was first applied to engineered water treatment systems and various swimming pool chemicals and accessories. Subsequently in 2008, the decision was taken to strengthen the company's position by launching a comprehensive range of water pumps and associated items that offered customers unrivaled choice, availability, value and support from the D&S Group.
I write this message on the eve of D&S's 75th anniversary, a major achievement for any organisation and one that I am particularly proud of having essentially been involved for the entire period, firstly as a child witnessing my father's efforts to establish the company and for the past 45 years, initially as an engineer, then a director and now the Chairman.