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The interrupted accountant: My Long Journey to the Mountaintop
Philip Kinisu was born and spent his early years in rural Kenya. He counts among the few who navigated the transition from rural life to a successful world-class career in accounting and business consultancy, both as a practitioner and a leader. He came to prominence in his successive roles as Partner, Territory Senior Partner and finally as Chairman of the Africa Board in PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where he worked for more than three decades from 1979 to 2014. These roles saw him scale the heights of professional accomplishments, leading teams to deliver on myriad technical assignments as well as manage a successful professional services business across sub-Sahara Africa. In his long career, he positively impacted many; he was not only a role model but also a mentor and trainer. He boasts directly contributing to seeking and implementing solutions to many socio-economic challenges that plague our world today. After his term at PwC, Kinisu offered himself to serve as Chairman, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in Kenya, a role which did not end well for him. The dynamics of that non-providential assignment have doubtless proffered valuable lessons which have been well captured in the book. Kinisu is a private family man who prefers that his actions speak for themselves. He divides his time between his homes in Nairobi and Western Kenya.
322 pages, Paperback
Published October 13, 2025
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July 14, 2026
Reading The Interrupted Accountant was a unique experience for me because the author is my uncle. Although we are related, I have never really known him beyond family gatherings and the occasional stories. This autobiography gave me the opportunity to understand the man behind the name and appreciate the remarkable journey that shaped his life.
The book chronicles his rise from a humble childhood in the village to becoming one of Kenya's respected accounting professionals. His story is a testament to the power of education, perseverance, discipline, and excellence. What stood out most to me was not simply that he built a successful career, but that he consistently used his expertise to contribute to national development.
I was particularly impressed by the breadth of his professional work. Beyond his long career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, he was involved in assignments that had a direct impact on Kenya's public sector. I found it especially interesting to read about his work in the health sector, including projects supporting the National AIDS Control Council following global efforts to strengthen the fight against HIV/AIDS. His involvement in initiatives related to family planning and public health demonstrated how accounting and consulting can influence society in ways many people may not expect.
The book also highlights his work with government institutions, where he participated in audits and investigations during periods of significant public scrutiny. Reading about these assignments gave me a greater appreciation for the role accountants and auditors play in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance. As someone building a career in finance, these chapters were among the most inspiring because they showed that the profession can create meaningful impact far beyond the corporate world.
Another part of the book that stayed with me was his account of serving as Chairman of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission. Learning about the challenges he faced and the circumstances that ultimately led to his resignation gave me a perspective I had never heard before. It was evident that public service often comes at a great personal and family cost.
The autobiography also revealed a more personal side of the author. I learned about his passion for golf and the responsibilities he carried as the eldest son in his family. The burden of being the person everyone turned to for financial and emotional support was something I had never fully considered before reading this book. Those reflections made him feel more human than the accomplished professional I had always known from a distance.
One passage that remained with me was his disappointment when people who have been given opportunities through education later fail to make the most of them. While I understood the broader lesson he was sharing, it was a difficult statement to read because it reminded me of struggles within my own extended family. It highlighted the complex realities that often accompany success and responsibility.
The book also inspired me to think beyond employment. Although he does not dwell extensively on his personal investments, I appreciated his perspective that professional success and wealth creation should go hand in hand. His interest in investing, particularly in real estate, reminded me that building a career is only one part of achieving long-term financial security. That lesson resonated with me as I continue to shape my own path in finance.
This was not the type of book I would normally choose to read, and I found some sections, particularly the more technical and professional chapters—quite detailed. Even so, I am glad I persevered and finished it. Beyond documenting one man's achievements, Interrupted Accountant is a story of resilience, integrity, sacrifice, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in leadership, public service, accounting, governance, or biographies of individuals who have helped shape Kenya's professional landscape. For me, it offered not only a deeper appreciation of my uncle's remarkable journey, but also valuable lessons about perseverance, service, and the importance of building a legacy that extends beyond one's career. As he shares his plans to spend his retirement travelling and writing, I find myself looking forward to reading his future books. If they carry the same honesty, insight, and wealth of experience found in Interrupted Accountant, they will undoubtedly make for worthwhile reading.
The book chronicles his rise from a humble childhood in the village to becoming one of Kenya's respected accounting professionals. His story is a testament to the power of education, perseverance, discipline, and excellence. What stood out most to me was not simply that he built a successful career, but that he consistently used his expertise to contribute to national development.
I was particularly impressed by the breadth of his professional work. Beyond his long career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, he was involved in assignments that had a direct impact on Kenya's public sector. I found it especially interesting to read about his work in the health sector, including projects supporting the National AIDS Control Council following global efforts to strengthen the fight against HIV/AIDS. His involvement in initiatives related to family planning and public health demonstrated how accounting and consulting can influence society in ways many people may not expect.
The book also highlights his work with government institutions, where he participated in audits and investigations during periods of significant public scrutiny. Reading about these assignments gave me a greater appreciation for the role accountants and auditors play in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance. As someone building a career in finance, these chapters were among the most inspiring because they showed that the profession can create meaningful impact far beyond the corporate world.
Another part of the book that stayed with me was his account of serving as Chairman of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission. Learning about the challenges he faced and the circumstances that ultimately led to his resignation gave me a perspective I had never heard before. It was evident that public service often comes at a great personal and family cost.
The autobiography also revealed a more personal side of the author. I learned about his passion for golf and the responsibilities he carried as the eldest son in his family. The burden of being the person everyone turned to for financial and emotional support was something I had never fully considered before reading this book. Those reflections made him feel more human than the accomplished professional I had always known from a distance.
One passage that remained with me was his disappointment when people who have been given opportunities through education later fail to make the most of them. While I understood the broader lesson he was sharing, it was a difficult statement to read because it reminded me of struggles within my own extended family. It highlighted the complex realities that often accompany success and responsibility.
The book also inspired me to think beyond employment. Although he does not dwell extensively on his personal investments, I appreciated his perspective that professional success and wealth creation should go hand in hand. His interest in investing, particularly in real estate, reminded me that building a career is only one part of achieving long-term financial security. That lesson resonated with me as I continue to shape my own path in finance.
This was not the type of book I would normally choose to read, and I found some sections, particularly the more technical and professional chapters—quite detailed. Even so, I am glad I persevered and finished it. Beyond documenting one man's achievements, Interrupted Accountant is a story of resilience, integrity, sacrifice, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in leadership, public service, accounting, governance, or biographies of individuals who have helped shape Kenya's professional landscape. For me, it offered not only a deeper appreciation of my uncle's remarkable journey, but also valuable lessons about perseverance, service, and the importance of building a legacy that extends beyond one's career. As he shares his plans to spend his retirement travelling and writing, I find myself looking forward to reading his future books. If they carry the same honesty, insight, and wealth of experience found in Interrupted Accountant, they will undoubtedly make for worthwhile reading.
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